PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley Women's Tennis team will open the dual match season Thursday when the Braves host local rival Western Illinois in a noon match at the Clubs at River City.

Thursday's match will be the first for first-year Braves head coach Matt Tyler, as well as freshmen Ariel Dechter and Ashley Thai, who were two of Bradley's top players during the fall tournament season. Dechter led the Braves with a 10-6 record in tournament action, while Thai (6-9) tied junior Cassia Wojtalik (6-6) for second on the team with six wins in the fall.

Although Western Illinois owns a 22-12 all-time advantage in the series, Bradley has swept each of the last two encounters and has won nine of the last 10 overall against the Leathernecks.

Following Thursday's match, the Braves will be on the road for their next three duals before returning home to host Eastern Illinois Feb. 21 and Northern Illinois Feb. 22, both at the Clubs at River City.