The men’s and women’s tennis teams are expecting to be more competitive in conference this year.

As the tennis season begins, both teams are confident that they can improve on their previous seasons.

“Expectations are optimistic this year,” T.J. Cox, coach of the men’s team, said. “We will be a lot deeper this year and should be more competitive in the conference.”

Practice officially started on Sep. 4 for the men. They have seven newcomers including five freshmen and two transfer students, along with returners Blake Billings as a senior and junior Alex Hook.

“We finished with four wins on the season last year and are looking to improve on that this year,” Cox said.

The men’s team ended 4-15 overall in 2012 with a 0-8 record in conference last year and are expecting to end this year with more success.

Cox was not hired until July of 2011, so last year he could not recruit for the upcoming season.

“The biggest difference this year will be numbers,” Cox said. “We have 10 players for the fall and should be up to 12 for the spring so that should make a big difference.”

The women’s team has already gotten to a good start to their season after beating Buena Vista University 6-3.

“I think that we will come out and surprise a lot of teams this year with the talent we have,” senior Lindsay Nash said. “Our team goals are obviously to make it to the team tournament and to place higher than we did last year.”

Nash said that they have lost their number one player from last year due to injury, but that a lot of talented freshmen are going to help tremendously.

“Practices have started out really well with everyone working really hard to improve,” Nash said.

Last season the women’s team finished up with a record of 10-8 overall and 3-5 in conference play and also placing 5th in the team tournament.

This year the women expect to finish stronger than ever.

“We have a very good chance of placing higher than we have ever before,” Nash said. “Our team goals are obviously to make it to the team tournament and to place higher than we did last year.”

The team tournament will be held in the spring this season and the fall season is starting a week later and ending a week earlier for the women.

Nash expects to contribute a lot individually this season.

“My individual goals would be improving my overall game strategy and finishing off my career with the best record that I have had so far in my time at Simpson,” Nash said.

The men had an exhibition meet Sep. 1 against William Jewell at the Indianola Middle School courts.

The men’s first official match is Sep. 11 at Grand View.

The women, however, are three matches into their season. They are 1-2 with losses to William Jewell and Coe and winning their opener to Buena Vista on Aug. 29.