PennsylMinnesota opens the 2000-01 season at the William & Mary Invitational, Friday-Sunday, in Williamsburg, Va. Teams participating are Arizona, Boston College, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Princeton, VCU, Wake Forest and William & Mary.

The Golden Gophers return four letterwinners from last year's team that reached Minnesota's first-ever Big Ten Conference Tournament championship match. The 2000 squad also recorded the most victories (18) since the 1988-89 season and ended the year ranked No. 28, tying the highest ranking in school history first set in 1997.

Head Coach Martin Novak
Martin Novak begins his 11th season as head coach of the women's tennis team. Novak earned the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year award in 2000 after leading the Golden Gophers to the title game of the conference tournament and an 18-7 overall record. Under Novak's guidance, Minnesota has the distinction of being the only Big Ten Conference team with a winning conference record the past five years. The Golden Gophers have advanced to NCAA postseason competition four of the last five years. Novak has compiled a 115-106 record at Minnesota.

Rangsithienchai Joins Coaching Staff
Sitinee Rangsithienchai enters her first year as assistant coach. She was a four-year letterwinner for the Golden Gophers from 1995-99, finishing her career second in school history for career singles victories with 89. Rangsithienchai earned the Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year award and All-Big Ten honors in singles in 1996. She was named the conference's Women's Tennis Sportswoman of the Year in 1998. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Rangsithienchai was named Minnesota's co-Most Valuable Athlete her junior year.