For Ashley Esparza, exams aren't of top priority during finals week.

That's because the Penn State softball team's pitcher and first baseman will be playing with her teammates in the Big Ten Tournament, which starts this Thursday.

Esparza is one of a number of Penn State athletes who will have their hands full, as they try to juggle schoolwork and practice schedules during the hectic week.

"We're just kind of juggling softball and school once again -- softball kind of comes a little bit before," Esparza said. "I mean, it kind of defies the whole student-athlete thing, but I mean, a lot of the professors understand, so we just do what we do to get done."

The players said they will likely make up their exams earlier in the week.

Senior shortstop Jen Acunto said the team usually leaves Wednesday for the tournament, adding professors help them deal with the constant studying that comes between practicing and time spent in the weight room.

"They try to help us work around that the best they can, and that's it," Acunto said. "We just do our best -- everything we can."

That attitude will help, as the Nittany Lions will not benefit from a more convenient practice schedule. Not with the Big Ten Tournament in their foresights, at least.

"Normally, if it wasn't Big Ten Tournament time, I'm really good about adjusting our practice around their finals schedule," Penn State softball coach Robin Petrini said. "But the fact that the Big Ten Tournament falls during the finals schedule, they are going to have to make adjustments."

Joining the softball team's company with a hectic schedule is the men's tennis team, which closed out its season with the Big Ten Championships, held in Iowa City, Iowa, April 24-27. As of press time, they had a good chance of advancing to the NCAA Tennis Championships, which began last Friday.

"I think you have just got to do a mix of both," senior Chris Sherman said of studying and practicing.

"With no classes ... if you go out and practice an hour and a half each day, you've still got the whole time to study."

The senior has been through this situation before and says it's not that big a deal.

For freshmen such as Jamie Cox, who was lucky enough to have only one exam early this week, it will be unfamiliar territory.

"I'll be done and be ready to focus for NCAAs, so I'll just get that out of the way," Cox said.

"I'll just focus a few days on my exam and just keep playing and keep working hard for NCAAs."

Jake Toole, another freshman, had similar fortunes, as all of his exams are at the beginning of this week, giving him enough time to switch gears and focus for the NCAA championships.

"I'll be able to knock them out quickly," Toole said.

"We'll have a couple of days before the tournament, so we'll be good."

Another team with potential problems is the men's volleyball team.

After advancing to the NCAA semifinals, the Lions had to fly to Irvine, Calif., for a game last Thursday.

Penn State volleyball coach Mark Pavlik said it is up to him to prepare his team for both final exams and play.

"If they do things well, it is my job to make sure to give them days off and make sure they take care of getting ready for finals," Pavlik said.

After all, they are student-athletes, not athlete-students.

"I've got to make sure they are ready and they are preparing for the important thing they are here for: to get their degree," Pavlik said.