The University of Northern Colorado women's tennis team will begin its new challenge of Division I tennis a season after leaving the Division II ranks and its dominance of the North Central Conference. UNC won 11 of the last 12 league crowns and reached the NCAA Tournament each of the past five seasons.

Legendary head coach Rosemary Fri will return four starters to this year's squad and will mix in a pair of newcomers into the starting lineup.

Headlining the group of returnees is senior Jan Ikeda. Ikeda put herself on the national map this past fall when she won the ITA North Central Regional. The Wailuku, Hawaii, native, advanced to the national ITA tournament where she placed 7th in the nation in singles. Ikeda enters the spring season ranked No. 22 in the nation in singles and No. 25 in doubles with teammate Meredith Krystofik.

"Jan is poised to have a fantastic senior season," Fri said. "She is serving as our captain this season and she is showing the leadership we need from her in the No. 1 position. She really had a great fall by winning the ITA regional tournament and fared well at the national tournament as well."

Senior Shannon Lauridson, who tallied a 17-8 mark in 2002-03, will move to the No. 4 singles spot this season to strengthen the Bears' lineup.

Junior Julia McPherson will return to the lineup and likely fill out the No. 5 singles spot in Fri's lineup.

The No. 6 singles' position will be a toss up between junior Taneisha Pechek and senior Amber Alley. Pechek has fought injuries the past two seasons but looks to be fully recovered. Alley played most of last season at the No. 5 singles spot and tallied a mark of 12-13.

Krystofik, a freshman from Frisco, Texas, will likely fit into the No. 2 singles role and replace the graduated Jodie Sato. Freshman Renee Nuccio, a native of Littleton, Colo., will be placed into the No. 3 singles spot to begin the spring.

The Bears' schedule is filled with a mixture of Division I and lower division opponents. UNC will open the season Jan. 30 in Colorado Springs against Division I foe Eastern Washington. UNC will continue with its Division I schedule on Jan. 31 at Air Force. UNC will also play Iowa State (Mar. 14) and Colorado State (Mar. 30). UNC will close the season on April 16-17 at the Division I Independent Tournament in Corpus Christi, Texas.