STORM LAKE, Iowa (Aug. 28, 2026) - The Buena Vista University women's tennis team is set to kick off its 2026-27 season this weekend with a pair of non-conference matches during the Cornell College Invitational on Saturday. The program has more than doubled its roster size over the last few years and will give head coach Dan Taylor more depth than he has ever had going into his eighth season at the helm.

“We are bringing back almost the entirety of our top six,” says Taylor. “We will have players in the lineup who have done it before and know what to expect once conference competition begins.” 

BVU went 3-17 (1-7 A-R-C) a season ago and came up just short in a few additional matches which could have boosted the program to its highest overall win total in over a decade.

A pair of veteran seniors will pave the way with their leadership throughout the year. Macy Weller (Kasota, Minn./St. Peter Public) and Fiona Astleford (Kansas City, Mo.) have both been regulars in the starting line-up throughout their careers. Weller has won four overall singles matches in each of the last two years which has been either tops or second on the team.

Sophomore Hannah Higgins (Clarinda, Iowa/Clarinda) leads a talented group of sophomores and was the team’s primary No. 1 singles player as a freshman last season and chalked up a team-leading five overall singles victories. She also teamed with Weller and captured a big doubles win at Nebraska Wesleyan.

“Both Hannah and Macy are our top two from last year,” adds Taylor. “They played doubles together last season, and I see them really breaking out this fall, being in every doubles match and getting wins against teams they played tough against a year ago.”

Abby Meseck (Charter Oak, Iowa/Denison-Schleswig) matched Weller with four singles wins, including a pair at No. 4. She also notched a team-leading five doubles victories, including three while playing alongside her sister, Hailey, who graduated after the fall campaign.

“Abbey, Charlie Weiner, Olivia Gomez and Fiona all played some positions from No. 4-6 last year,” says Taylor. “They will all most definitely contribute this year, and will be pushed by our three freshmen, as well as other teammates Allison Cook and Jenna Onstot, who played varsity doubles frequently last season.”

Three newcomers – Madi Peyman (Fairmont, Minn./Fairmont), Abril Torres (Storm Lake, Iowa/Storm Lake) and Kayla Volkert (Washta, Iowa/Cherokee Washington) will join the program heading into this fall. All three first-years have earned all-conference accolades in their respective high school careers and will add a great deal of competitiveness to the returning mix of veteran experience.

BVU plays a pair of non-conference matches earlier in September before opening the home slate and the A-R-C schedule by hosting Nebraska Wesleyan on Sept. 12. It marks the first of four home matches for the team during the fall.

“There aren't any easy matches in our conference at all,” Taylor states. “Many of the teams have a senior-laden lineup, so our overall younger lineup will be gaining in experience every single match.”