The Minnesota women’s swimming & diving team opens the 2010-11 season this weekend with a pair of dual meets at Michigan (Friday, Oct. 8) and Michigan State (Saturday, Oct. 9).

The Golden Gophers have a lengthy and talented list of 24 returning letterwinners from last year’s squad that placed second in the Big Ten Conference and 12th at the NCAA Championships. Minnesota returns its entire NCAA lineup from 2009, including national champion 3-meter diver Kelci Bryant and All-Americans Jillian Tyler and Haley Spencer.

On a Big Ten level, Minnesota is poised for a great season with 94 percent of its scoring back from the Conference runner-up team. The Gophers won six individual crowns and a relay and they all return. Winning two individual titles a year ago were Ashley Steenvoorden (500 free, 1,650 free) and Bryan (1m and 3m diving).

After the weekend in Michigan, the Gophers will return home to the University Aquatic Center for five consecutive meets, including an Oct. 29 clash with Wisconsin.