After jumping out to a 2-0 start this past weekend, the Simpson women’s tennis team (2-1) looked to ride this start into their midweek matchup against Graceland University (1-0) Thursday.

Graceland, who is coming off a Heartland of American Athletic Conference crown and NAIA National Tournament birth last season, was a challenge for the Storm all-afternoon.

Freshman, Cassidy Bierbrodt, was the only Storm player to scratch out a victory for Simpson as the team dropped 8 of 9 matches in a 8-1 team defeat to the Yellow Jackets.

Despite falling to 2-1 after today’s meeting with Graceland, assistant coach Patrick Heller was optimistic with the progress and potential he sees in the women’s team this season.

“I think this season is going to be better than last year,” said assistant coach Heller. “We’ve got some new girls that are really good. Even though this meet might end up on the wrong side of the ledger, Graceland is a really good team and our girls are competing very well.”

Simpson will have little time to dwell on Thursday’s loss as they are thrown into conference play this Saturday in a double-dip against Loras College and the University of Dubuque. The day begins at 10 a.m. as the Storm take on the Duhawks at the Buxton Tennis Complex.