Bradley University Athletics

Bradley Tennis Shines in Saturday Sweep

Playing outdoors in mid-February, Bradley Tennis downed both Western Illinois and Chicago State Saturday at the David Markin Tennis Courts

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Freshman Natalia Barbery earned a pair of wins at No. 3 singles Saturday

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Women's Tennis 2/18/2017 5:36:00 PM

PEORIA, IL - Bradley Tennis entered Saturday's doubleheader in search of momentum to kick off its season-long, 6-match home stand. The Braves (4-3) got their wish on a spring-like day on the David Markin Tennis Courts, dumping Western Illinois, 6-1, before handling Chicago State, 5-2, for their second and third wins in the last four outings.

Bradley began the day with a sweep of the doubles point against Western Illinois. In the No. 3 spot, the dynamic duo of junior Alexa Brandt and sophomore Malini Wijesinghe continued their dominant doubles play by clinching the doubles point in a 6-2 match. Senior Ariel Dechter and junior Aimee Manfredo secured the sweep in No. 2 doubles, also winning 6-2, while the No. 1 pairing of Natalia Barbery and Ashley Thai got the doubles sweep started with a 6-1 triumph.

The Braves came close to a sweep in singles play, losing only in the No. 6 place. Dechter got her team started, winning the first singles point 6-2, 6-1 in the No. 1 spot. Brandt clinched the match win for Bradley, taking a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Freshman Natalia Barbery made a strong showing as well, dominating her match in 6-0, 6-2 fashion.

With only a short break in between matches, Chicago State threatened, before the Braves pulled through. The Cougars started well, defeating No. 1 doubles pair Barbery/Thai by a score of 6-1. Bradley's strength-in-numbers philosophy proved too much, though, as Dechter/Manfredo and Brandt/Wijesinghe both pulled out victories to win the doubles point.

Teamwork was the key in singles play after Bradley career wins leader Dechter lost her point 6-0, 6-1. Her teammates backed her up, though, securing four of the other five singles matches to secure the win. Barbery took the clinching point, winning 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 3 spot. Junior Alejandra de Lasa (6-1, 6-0 win at No. 2) and Manfredo (6-2, 6-1 win at No. 5) set the table by cruising to wins in their singles matches. Bradley's season wins leader, Wijesinghe claimed yet another hard-fought victory, taking a 3-set decision in the No. 6 place 6-1, 3-6, 10-6.

The Braves will continue their six-match home stand when they host Wright State and Butler in a pair of matches on Saturday, February 25. Bradley will open the day with Wright State at 9 a.m., followed by Butler at 1 p.m., both at the Clubs at River City.

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