Peoria, Ill. -- The Braves travel east on I-74 for the Missouri Valley opener this weekend when they take on Illinois State in Normal, Ill. at the McCormick Courts on the southwest corner of the ISU campus. Bradley enters the first MVC weekend with a 4-5 overall mark, winners of their last two. 

Junior Teri Chan has led the Bradley charge throughout, amassing a 15-8 overall record playing in the No. 3 slot for the Braves.  The active wins leader has run her career mark to 50-31 heading into MVC play, a win total good enough for 6^th on the all-time BU list and just 9 wins shy of tying the overall record.

Not to be outdone is senior, No. 1 singles player, Ashley Morris.  Morris is the all-time doubles wins leader and her 49 career singles wins place her just behind Chan on the list of all-time Bradley greats.  Morris sports a 16-9 overall mark this season.

Freshmen are sprinkled in the Bradley lineup with Kim Braun and Erin Krubeck contributing from day one.  Braun is a mainstay at No. 4 while Krubeck has held up well in the No. 5 singles slot.

The top doubles pair of Morris and junior Elise Montrose spearheads the Bradley contingent in doubles.  Morris and Montrose enter Valley play at 15-9 overall, including an impressive 11-5 mark in tournament play.

Illinois State

The Redbirds were picked second in the preseason poll, but have played just seven matches in the spring ? leaving them difficult to read as Valley play gets underway.

Regardless of the quantity, the Redbirds have faced quality in their non-conference schedule.  DePaul, Illinois, Western Michigan and Marquette dot the ISU schedule in perhaps the most challenging slate of any MVC team.

Carolyne Parent survived the rough slate with an impressive 6-1 mark at No. 4 while Nicole Schneider showed off the ISU depth with a 5-1 record at No. 5.

The top of the Redbird lineup has held their ground, hovering around .500 against the tough competition.

ISU, while perhaps not as strong as the other ISU, will be a challenger come tournament time.

Probable Match-ups

Singles

1. Ashley Morris BU v. Katri Miller ISU
2. Elise Montrose BU v. Veronique Parke-Bedard ISU
3. Teri Chan BU v. Emilie Sechaud ISU
4. Kim Braun BU v. Carolyne Parent ISU
5. Erin Krubeck BU v. Nicole Schneider ISU
6. Jess Sampias BU v. Megan Rozboril ISU

Doubles

1. Morris/Montrose BU v. Miller/Michelle Rabinovich ISU
2. Chan/Braun BU v. Parke-Bedard/Ashley Maxwell ISU
3. Sampias/Krubeck BU v. Schneider/Matea Simovic ISU