MACOMB, Ill. - The Braves took 2-of-3 doubles matches for an early 1-0 lead, but Western Illinois rebounded with five wins in singles play for a 5-2 dual match victory Tuesday afternoon at the Varsity Courts. Bradley's lone singles win came at the No. 1 spot as junior Nicole Miller (Glendale Heights, Ill./Glenbard West H.S) defeated Marcela Brandao 6-3, 7-5.
At No. 2 singles, Stephanie Baumer beat senior Emily Regenold (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton H.S.) in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, while senior Kelly Donohue (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart Academy) dropped her No. 3 match to Jill Furlong 7-5, 6-2. Western Illinois' Yana Meinert topped senior Jessica Buterbaugh (Paradise Valley, Ariz./Chaparral H.S.) 6-2, 6-0 at the No. 4 spot and Amy Unzicker handled freshman Kennedy Scott (Calgary, Alberta/National Sports School) 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 5 spot. The Leathernecks earned their fifth point at No. 6 singles as Kate Kennedy defeated freshman Brigitte Graf (Double Oak, Texas/Faustina Academy) 6-1, 6-0.
In doubles play, Miller and Regenold teamed up at the No. 1 spot to take down Brandao/Meinert 8-3, while Donohue/Buterbaugh edged Baumer/Furlong at the No. 2 spot 9-7. Western Illinois avoided the doubles sweep with a win at the No. 3 spot as Unzicker/Claire Griffin topped Scott/Graf 8-1.
Bradley (5-9, 0-1 MVC) will return to Missouri Valley Conference play Friday, April 2 with a 1 p.m. home match against Evansville.