at Illinois State 5, Bradley 2

BLOOMINGTON, IL - Bradley junior Ariel Dechter (Mundelein, IL/Mundelein H.S.) became the winningest player in Braves women's tennis history, but Illinois State earned a 5-2 victory in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams Saturday night at Evergreen Racquet Club.

Dechter teamed with sophomore Aimee Manfredo for a 7-6 win at No. 2 doubles to equal Teri Chan's school record with her 115th combined singles and doubles win. She then gave the Braves their first point of the night and claimed the school wins record outright by earning a default victory at No. 1 singles. After Dechter won the first set, 7-6, Illinois State's Veronika Golanova retired with Dechter leading the second set, 2-1. Dechter improves to 116-83 overall with a 66-38 singles record and a 50-45 doubles mark.

Bradley's only other point Saturday, however, came from freshman Malini Wijesinghe, who earned a 6-2, 7-5 win at No. 6 singles.

Saturday's result completed a season-long, 7-match road swing for the Braves. Bradley (9-9, 0-1 MVC) will play its next four matches at home, beginning next weekend with 10 a.m. duals Saturday against Southern Illinois and Sunday versus Evansville at the David Markin Tennis Courts on campus.