The three Missoula schools — Big Sky, Hellgate and Sentinel — and Columbia Falls will join Flathead and Glacier on the courts today, weather permitting of course, for the annual Flathead Invitational tennis tournament.

Play begins at 9 a.m. with Nos. 1-2 singles and doubles on the courts at Flathead Valley Community College.

Nos. 3-4 singles and doubles will play at the Liberty and Thompson Park courts.

All the action is flighted.

“First (tournament) of the season,” Flathead coach Sue Corrigan said.

“I’ve been looking forward to it.”

Flathead and Glacier have spent the first month of their schedules with dual action, mainly in Missoula. So this will be a pleasant switch for the players and coaches.

Flathead’s lineup for today consists of singles players (boys) No. 1 Glenn Strickler, No. 2 Connor Roetigg, No. 3 Bridger Putnam and No. 3 Sam Clarin; (girls) No. 2 Ashli Petek, No. 3 Courtney Rufenach, No. 3 Makenna Marvin and No. 3 Makayla Dillon.

For doubles, it will be (boys) No. 2 Eric West/Kody Butts, No. 2 Daniel Olzseweski/Daniel Tame, No. 3 Joey Wisher/Bodie Scheifer and No. 3 Nick Buenz/Carson Regoli; (girls) No. 2 Katie Goodnough/Jenna Jensen, No. 2 Melanie Treece/Camas Carlson, No. 3 Mia Rottier/Emily Dardis, and No. 3 Liz Stone/Oaloma Buck-Harrington.

Because of music festivals and academic trips, Flathead will again be missing some key varsity personnel. That has allowed first-year players and members of the JV to move up to the varsity.

“I’m kind of anxious to see how Daniel (Olzseweski) and Daniel (Tame) will do,” Corrigan said of the doubles team.

“They have played together in practice, but not at a tournament yet. They show some potential.”

They will play at the No. 2 spot.

“The girls have been struggling,” Corrigan said.

“Again, we have a lot of inexperienced players. I hope they stick with the game. They are energetic, want to learn and haven’t been discouraged at meets so far.”

For Glacier today, in singles it will be (boys) No. 1 Hunter Blalack, No. 2 Holland Blalack, No. 2 Eli Hertlein, No. 3 Grant Germann, No. 3 Ben Grieser and No. 3 Matt LaGrandeur; (girls) No. 2 Amber Hamblin, No. 3 Olivia Malchi, No. 3 Holly McDonald and No. 3 Shelby O’Dell.

For doubles, it’s (boys) No. 1 Spencer Johnson/Greg Jones, No. 2 Sam Stern/Kyler Harkins, No. 2 Ben Wright/Keenan Brown, No. 3 Hunter Danz/Chazz Upton, No. 3 Kevin Talcott/Taylor Treece and No. 3 Brandon Purdy/Nick Vanderbeek; (girls) No. 2 Caitlin Ward/Anna Cecil, No. 2 Maya Buckingham/Berta Jover-Llorens, No. 2 McKenna Tinseth/Kyersten Siebenaler and No. 3 Kenzie Mertz and Hailee Darlington.

Like Flathead, Glacier’s lineup will be impacted by music, field trips and other academic endeavors.

“It will be fine,” Glacier coach John Munro said.

“That’s OK. That’s good experience for them.”

Munro said one of the benefits of hosting a tournament is more Glacier kids will see court time than usual.

“Trying out a different lineup and seeing what some of these kids can do,” he said.

“We always start the invitational season,” he continued.

“Then it goes to Missoula and Helena.

“It’s been a rough week weather wise,” he said.

“Canceling practices, missing matches. I’m looking forward to playing.”