The Helfaer Tennis Stadium will be buzzing this weekend with a little more excitement than the wave of New Year’s resolution gym-goers.

The women’s tennis team opens its spring season at home tomorrow with a non-conference match against Illinois-Chicago, immediately followed by the team’s conference opener against Villanova. Another conference match is scheduled for Sunday against Louisville.

Senior Maggie Wilson said the Golden Eagles are confident heading into conference play and ready to face some tough competition.

“Our preparation has been really good,” Wilson said. “As long as we keep up with that and maintain focus and composure throughout the matches we have a great opportunity to upset some big teams.”

Head coach Jody Bronson said the team came back a week early to start training and the Golden Eagles’ work ethic and team chemistry have made for solid practices.

Even so, it will be difficult starting the season with two conference matches.

“It’s a little early for conference play, but it was the only way our two schools could get together this year,” Bronson said about Louisville. “Usually we like to play later in the season.”

Louisville’s young team is coming in with a lot of talent but not much experience.

“They’ve always been a team that can stand in our way in the conference, and they always play at a very high level,” Bronson said.

Last week, the Cardinals downed Bowling Green and Morehead State 5-2 and 7-0, respectively, but coach Mark Beckham said the women are obviously new to college play.

“They really don’t know the intensity and the pressure and how much is involved in a college match,” he said. “They don’t know that because they haven’t been through it. I don’t know how they’re going to handle that.”

Last year, Marquette defeated Louisville 4-3 in a tight match, and only three of Louisville’s players will be returning against almost the same Marquette lineup.

“I was a bit injured last year … and we’re kind of going in without a full team, but (coach Jody Bronson’s) team is always good,” Beckham said. “They definitely have the upper hand.”

While Beckham said he doesn’t see his team as a favorite this weekend, he stands by his young talent, noting that he’s sure they will be better than the Louisville team that went to the NCAA tournament in 2008.

Wilson recognized her team is at an advantage, but said the Golden Eagles aren’t resting on their laurels.

“It’s always been a rivalry,” she said about Louisville. “We also can’t forget about our match against UIC because they’re also a very talented team, and we can’t take them lightly.”

The Golden Eagles won a tight match against the Flames last year, 4-3, and Wilson said she expects tough competition again. But the heavy schedule and challenging play is worth it for the Golden Eagles to grow, she said.

“Our coach sees it as really important that we’re always playing teams of a really high level, because that gives the most opportunity to grow and improve our games, making us stronger over the years,” Wilson said.