What better way to kick off a fall festival of Binghamton University athletics than with an exhibition of perhaps BU’s hottest team?

The first-ever Binghamton University “Bearcat Festival of Games,” which will run from tomorrow through the end of October, opens with Mike Stevens’ women’s tennis team hosting the annual Binghamton Invitational.

The Bearcats, led by sophomore Juliana Umeki and a now-healthy Zeynep Altinay, will take on Colgate and America East foe Albany in a round-robin style format in this two-day affair. The invitational is the first of five events over the next four weeks that will feature contests, games and food intended to attract fans.

“It’s always a nice fall home tournament for us,” Stevens said. “Having one of the Bearcat days out there with the tents set up, we’re looking forward to a lot of good matches.”

Altinay and classmate Lya Kushnirovich have been the story of the fall, with Altinay breaking BU’s all-time win record of 69 in the season-opening Bloomsburg Duals three weeks ago, and with Kushnirovich not trailing far behind with 68 wins and also poised to surpass the old mark, previously held by former Bearcat Lisa Denerstein.

If history is any indication, both players should cruise through their matches this weekend. Both players are 5-0 against Albany and Colgate combined in their illustrious Bearcat careers.

Play starts at 9:30 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at the newly-refurbished West Gym Courts.

“There should be a lot of good matches to see,” Stevens said.