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Box Score 2 PEORIA, IL — Bradley split a pair of matches in a double-header on Saturday, defeating Western Illinois 4-3 before falling to Eastern Illinois 5-2.
The Braves started the day strong, taking the lead over Western Illinois with the doubles point and not falling behind through the end of the match. After briefly falling to a ties at two separate times, the Braves held on to win the match 4-3 over the Leathernecks with a victory from freshman
Sandra Maletin at No. 1 singles.
The doubles team of senior
Alexa Brandt and sophomore
Malini Wijesinghe won its match 6-2 at No. 2 doubles, followed by a victory from sophomore
Natalia Barbery and freshman
Sandra Maletin to clinch the doubles point for the Braves. The point proved to be crucial, giving the Braves an edge heading into singles play.
After freshman
Victoria Gonzalez retired due to injury at No. 5 singles, Wijesinghe and Brandt pushed Bradley's lead to 3-1 before freshman
Kinga Kovacs fell in straight-sets in the No. 6 place.
Coming down to the wire with Barbery and Maletin finishing three-set matches, Barbery fell in No. 2 singles to bring the match to a 3-3 tie. Maletin, playing in the third set of an intense match, was up 4-0. She dominated the final two games and won the point for the Braves, clinching Bradley's first match of the day.
The afternoon's match versus Eastern Illinois was a tough one for the Braves. Coming in riding a 9-match win streak against Bradley, the Panthers looked to continue their dominance. EIU took a 3-0 lead to start the match by seizing the doubles point as well as Nos. 1 and 6 singles.
Brandt and Wijesinghe remained perfect for the day, though, taking victories at Nos. 3 and 4 singles respectively. Brandt/Wijesinghe also won its second doubles match of the day earlier in the dual, taking the pair's 28th career doubles win. The triumph puts the team two wins out of fourth-place all-time at Bradley.
The Braves are now 3-3 on the season. The team returns to action Sunday, Feb. 17 when it begins its season-long road trip at Omaha.
