The University of Northern Colorado women's tennis team will look to repeat its performance from a year ago which included yet another North Central Conference crown (UNC's 11th straight league title) and a berth into the NCAA national tournament. This will be UNC's final season of Division II tennis as the Bears will move to Division I next season.

Head coach Rosemary Fri returns four starters from a year ago plus a returnee from two years ago to give her five experienced starters in the lineup. UNC finished 15-10 in duals last season and won the North Central regional tournament with a 5-4 victory over Northwest Missouri State. The Bears then lost to Oauchita Baptist in the first round of the national tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Leading the returnees is junior No. 1 seed Jan Ikeda. Ikeda tallied a 15-14 record last spring and will play at the top spot for the third straight year. Ikeda is ranked No. 5 in the North Central region singles' rankings. Ikeda and doubles partner Jodie Sato give the Bears one of the top pair of teammates in the North Central region. Ikeda and Sato posted a doubles mark of 20-8 last season. The Bears' duo is ranked No. 4 in the North Central region in doubles.

Sato, who will serve as the team's captain, returns for her senior season and will hold down the No. 2 singles position. Sato was 19-7 in 2002. Sato is ranked No. 8 in the North Central region in doubles.

UNC will need to replace No. 3 player Lori Eslinger, who graduated last spring. Eslinger was a four-time North Central Conference singles champion and claimed the doubles' crown three times. Junior Shannon Lauridson will look to take Eslinger's spot at the No. 3 singles slot. Lauridson was 15-11 last season while playing at both the No. 4 and No. 5 singles positions.

Amber Alley returns for her junior season and will likely hold down the No. 4 singles position. Alley finished last season with a singles mark of 12-14.

Fri looks for a solid return by Taneisha Pechek. Pechek suffered a shoulder injury two years ago and sat out last season after undergoing shoulder surgery. If Pechek stays healthy it gives Fri another experienced performer lower in the lineup.

Sophomore Julia McPherson saw very limited action as a freshman but has provided a solid effort in the fall season. Fri expects McPherson to be a solid contributor at the No. 5 singles' slot. Newcomers to the lineup could also include Erin Cable and Heidi Frisch.

The UNC women's tennis schedule is again loaded with plenty of talent this spring. The Bears will travel to Topeka, Kan., to take on Washburn , Truman State and Northwest Missouri State -- all of which are tennis powers in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Conference. UNC will also travel to Pomona, Calif., to take part in the Xenia Tournament for the second consecutive year.