WHAT'S AHEAD: The Drake women's golf team will open its fall season by competing in the Redbird Invitational this Saturday and Sunday at the par-71, 6,047 yard D.A. Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Ill. Golfers will tee off at 8:30 a.m. each day.

SIZING UP THE BULLDOGS:  The Bulldogs, who finished second in the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship, will be led by seniors Michelle Mathwick (Greenfield, Wis.) and Kaitlyn Mauk (West Des Moines, Iowa). Mathwick, who competed in the 2010 U.S. Public Links Championship, finished 21st in the 2010 MVC Championship.

There are four newcomers on the team, including Chelsey Falk (Glenwood, Minn.), who is a transfer from the University of Minnesota. Freshmen to watch are Cristina Bowery (Carmel, Calif.), Hadley Jennings (Trenton, Mo.) and Rachel Oberheide (Park Ridge, Ill.).

Graduation claimed five seniors who were associated with women's golf from its Drake infancy including Olivia Lansing who was named the MVC Golfer of the Year in 2009 and 2010.