The Simpson women’s tennis team is currently competing in anon-traditional spring season as a way of keeping their gamesharp.

“The goal in the spring is to try and stay in playing shape andform,” said head coach Bob Nutgrass.

The non-traditional season, according to Nutgrass, is similar tothe regular fall season, but does not involve conference play.

“It’s not required for them (the team) to come out and train,but they can come out and play,” added Nutgrass. “They’re justtrying to get on the courts and work on their tennis game.”

The ladies, who have won two of three team meets so far thisspring, also have an opportunity to qualify for the NCAA DivisionIII National Tournament if they compete in the spring league.

Nutgrass said that the league is especially useful for his teambecause of their overall inexperience. Other than senior captainAmanda Byas, the team is made up entirely of freshmen and sophomoreplayers.

“They’re still trying to get used to a higher level of play,”said Nutgrass.

He also mentioned that the team would be continuing theirtraining voluntarily throughout the summer in individualcompetitions such as the Iowa Games and with a weight trainingprogram for conditioning.

According to Nutgrass, the team has made a goal to have a fullroster next fall and to work on adapting to college-levelcompetition in the mean time.

“We have a young squad and will have a good group carryingover,” said Nutgrass.

The team hits the courts again for a match with Wartburg in twoweeks.