INDIANAPOLIS, IN - After becoming the fourth player in program history to win 100 combined singles and doubles matches with a 2-0 showing during the morning's win at IUPUI, Bradley junior Ariel Dechter took over third place on Bradley's all-time combined wins chart with two more wins in the afternoon, leading the Braves (4-2) to a 6-1 victory against Butler (0-6) Saturday at the Butler Bubble.
Aided by her 4-0 day, Dechter now ranks third in Bradley history with 102 total victories: 57-35 in singles action and 45-40 in doubles play. Only Teri Chan with 115 combined wins from 2003-07 and Ashley Morris with 110 victories from 2002-06 rank ahead of Dechter in Bradley history.
While Saturday morning's 4-3 win at IUPUI came down to the final match on the court, the Braves breezed to their fourth consecutive win during Saturday afternoon's doubleheader nightcap. The duos of Dechter/Irinka Toidze at No. 2 doubles and Aimee Manfredo/Malini Wijesinghe at No. 3 both earned 6-3 victories to give Bradley the dual match's first point.
Bradley followed by winning five of the six singles matches to claim its first win in four all-time tries against Butler. The Bulldogs had won each of the three previous meetings from 2003-10 by 7-0 scores.
Dechter earned her 102nd all-time victory at No. 1 singles with a 6-3, 6-2 victory. Sophomore Aimee Manfredo (No. 4 singles) and freshman Malini Wijesinghe (No. 6) both swept to 6-0, 6-0 wins in their respective matches, while sophomore Alejandra de Lasa earned a 7-6, 6-3 win at No. 2 and senior Irinka Toidze added a 6-1, 6-2 victory in the No. 5 spot.
The Braves will try to continue their early-season momentum with another doubleheader Saturday when they host South Dakota (9 a.m.) and Northern Kentucky (1 p.m.) at the Clubs at River City North. Admission to Bradley Tennis home matches is free.