Bradley University Athletics

Bradley Tennis Earns Weekend Split

Braves finish regular season with 5-2 win at Missouri State to tie for fifth in the final league standings

Bradley University Marketing

Bobby Parker, Associate AD for Communications Women's Tennis 4/23/2017 6:53:00 PM

SPRINGFIELD, MO - A day after dropping a 7-0 decision at Wichita State, Bradley earned a split in its final weekend of the regular season by earning a 5-2 Missouri Valley Conference dual match win Sunday at Missouri State.

Ariel Dechter, Natalia Barbery and Ashley Thai all posted combined 2-0 singles and doubles records in Sunday's win against the Bears. The Braves (11-13, 2-5 MVC), who finished the regular season with two wins in their final three matches, tied for fifth in final league standings, but will be the No. 6 seed for the MVC Women's Tennis Championship, which will begin Friday at Illinois State's Gregory Street Tennis Courts. Bradley's quarterfinals round opponent is to be announced by the league office.

In Sunday's match against Missouri State, Bradley secured the doubles point by winning at both Nos. 1 and 2 Doubles. Barbery and Thai combined for a 6-3 win at No. 1 Doubles, while Dechter teamed with Aimee Manfredo for a 6-4 win at No. 2 Doubles.

Dechter (No. 1), Barbery (No. 2) and Thai (No. 6) all added straight-sets wins in singles action to secure the team victory. Sophomore Malini Wijesinghe added the fifth point by rallying for a 3-set win at No. 4 Singles: 6-7 (5), 6-2, 10-4.

Thai took over sole possession of second place on Bradley's all-time doubles victories list with her 59th career victory. By adding the singles win, Thai joined Dechter (150) as the only two players in program history to accumulate at least 120 combined singles and doubles career victories.

In addition, the Dechter/Manfredo tandem set Bradley's single-season record for No. 2 Doubles wins by picking up their 12th victory of the season at the No. 2 spot.

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