STORM LAKE, Iowa (Oct. 3, 2025) - The Buena Vista women's tennis team wrapped up its regular season schedule on Friday by hosting the top-2 teams in the American Rivers Conference but despite some close battles throughout the Beavers came up short in both matches by scores of 7-0.

BVU begin the day with an early morning 9 a.m. match-up with Coe College as senior Hailey Meseck teamed up with her sister, Abbey, on Senior Day, and the duo notched a strong 6-3 win in their No. 3 doubles match to get things started. The Kohawks, however, were just too strong in the other two matches and went on to win both by 6-1 margins.

In singles play, freshman Hannah Higgins came out and fought hard against the defending A-R-C Champion at No. 1 but came up just short in straight sets at 6-3, 6-3. Fellow freshman Charlie Rayford also came out strong in her opening set at No. 5 but would fall, 6-3, 6-1.

The win sent the Kohawks to 5-2 overall (5-1 A-R-C) as they then hit the road and traveled to Lincoln, Neb., for their second match of the day.

After wrapping up the match with Coe, the BVU players returned to class for the afternoon until retaking the courts for the 4 p.m. match against Luther College.

The Norse collected the early doubles point by winning all three matches. Higgins again came out tough at No. 1 singles but came up just short yet again after dropping the first set, 6-3 and losing the second, 6-0. Senior Taylor Fritz dropped a narrow 6-3 decision in her first set at No. 3 before falling in the second set, 6-0. Rayford also hung tough at No. 5 but fell in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3.

Luther would go on to capture the regular season A-R-C title with the victory and improved to 8-1 overall (7-0 A-R-C).

Prior to the match, the Beavers honored Meseck for her contributions to the program during her four-year career as she will not compete in the spring season.

“It's a massive challenge playing the top two teams in the conference in the same day, but our ladies really battled all day long and showed signs of continued improvement,” said BVU head coach Dan Taylor. “The two sisters, Hailey and Abbey, got a win at three doubles vs Coe, which was extra sweet since this was Senior Day for Hailey. She will be missed, and we got to celebrate all of her contributions to our program today, including 24 combined wins in doubles and singles in seven semesters. Hannah at number one singles played some outstanding tennis today, fighting hard for a 3-6 first set against the top player in the conference from Coe, and another 3-6 set against Luther's number one.”

“In the two meets combined, we had a half a dozen sets that were either 3-6 or 4-6, and that's more competitive matches than we've had with these two schools in a very long time,” added Taylor. “After a couple days rest, we will get a few more practices in before wrapping up the fall season with the individual A-R-C Tournament.”

Buena Vista concludes the regular season at 1-11 overall (1-7 A-R-C). The team will take part in the A-R-C Individual Tournament next Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11, in Cedar Rapids. This year's tournament is hosted by Coe College.