Feb. 7, 2008

OREM, Utah - Utah Valley will kick off its 2008 season when the Wolverines head to St. George to play in the Red Desert Classic. The event is co-hosted by Utah Valley and BYU.

The Wolverines will open their season against Northern Colorado Friday at 11 a.m. They will play double headers on Friday and Saturday and finish the tournament with a single game on Sunday.

Along with Northern Colorado, UV will play Loyola Marymount Friday, Rhode Island and Idaho State Saturday and Wisconsin Sunday.

"This will be our first time playing outside period," UV head coach Todd Fairbourne said. "I want to see how we do in areas that we've been working, specifically our hitting and pitching."

This will be the second straight season that UV will open at the tournament. The Wolverines will have plenty of new faces on the field and taking the ball in the pitchers circle. All four pitchers will likely see action this weekend with starters yet to be determined.

"With our youth, I would like to see how our kids react to successes and failures," Fairbourne said.

After its games this weekend, the Wolverines will have a week off before returning to action Feb. 22-24 at the Troy Cox Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M.