SURPRISE, Ariz. — A magical postseason run and one of the greatest seasons in Mississippi College women's tennis history came to a heartbreaking end Friday morning as the No. 7 nationally ranked Choctaws fell 4-3 to No. 6 Catawba College in the NCAA Division II National Semifinals at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Club.
Mississippi College closed the year with a remarkable 27-2 overall record after battling all the way to the final match on court six before the Indians narrowly secured the deciding point in a thrilling national semifinal showdown.
The Choctaws came out firing in doubles play, claiming victories at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to secure the opening point. Emily Buchanan and Ann Cabot Stockett earned a 6-3 win at the top spot, while Rune Van Wyk and Katharina Weber delivered a clutch 7-5 victory at No. 3 doubles.
MC continued to fight throughout singles action as Weber cruised to a straight-set victory at No. 3 singles and Van Wyk added another point with a strong performance at No. 5 singles.
With the match tied and every court carrying massive weight, the national semifinal ultimately came down to No. 6 singles where Ann Cabot Stockett battled into a decisive third set before Catawba escaped with the clinching point.
Despite the heartbreaking finish, the 2026 season will forever be remembered as a historic breakthrough for the Lady Choctaws program.
Mississippi College stormed through an undefeated regular season, finishing 8-0 in Gulf South Conference play while posting a perfect 10-0 road record. The Choctaws advanced through the NCAA South Regional and delivered one of the biggest wins in program history by defeating powerhouse Barry University, winners of seven of the last eight NCAA Division II National Championships.
The Choctaws then arrived in Arizona as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Round of 16 and continued their unforgettable postseason run with wins over No. 16 Adelphi and No. 9 Columbus State to reach the national semifinals.
Under head coach Michael Ward and assistant coaches Stan and Colleen Roberts, Mississippi College firmly established itself among the nation's elite programs while turning in arguably the greatest season in school history.
Though the season ended just one step short of the national championship match, the future remains incredibly bright in Clinton. The Lady Choctaws finished the year as one of the final four teams standing in NCAA Division II and proved throughout the spring they belong on the national stage.
