Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Bradley University Athletics

Share:

Tennis Visits Valparaiso Saturday

Bradley Tennis can lock up its first winning record since 1992-93 Saturday, when the Braves visit Missouri Valley Conference rival Valparaiso

Tennis Preview at Valparaiso 2019
Share:
Josh Schwam, Athletics Communications Intern Women's Tennis 4/5/2019 9:49:00 AM
VALPARAISO, IN – Bradley Tennis will look to return to its winning ways when the Braves (11-7, 0-1 MVC) visit Missouri Valley Conference rival Valparaiso (2-11, 0-0 MVC) Saturday afternoon at the Valparaiso Tennis Complex.  

The Braves are enjoying a signicant season in Bradley Tennis history:  with a win Saturday, they will reach the 12-win mark for just the eighth time in program history and secure a winning season for the first time since 1992-93. Members of the team also are playing for some unique individual honors. Senior Malini Wijesinghe (Apple Valley, MN/Apple Valley H.S.) is one win shy of tying second place in Bradley history for career singles wins at 72. She is 10 wins back of first place, former teammate Ariel Dechter, who sits at 82 wins. Wijesinghe also is one win shy of tying fifth place in Bradley history for career doubles wins at 55. Dechter leads that category, as well, with 69 career doubles wins. Finally, with a singles win, Sandra Maletin, (Belgrade, Serbia) would take over third place all time for singles wins by a sophomore. She currently sits at 19, tied with Wijesinghe from 2016-17.

BRADLEY TENNIS NOTEBOOK
Overall Record:  11-7 (.611)
MVC Record:  0-1 (.000)
 
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 6 at Valparaiso (Valparaiso, IN/Valparaiso University Tennis Complex), 2 p.m.
 
LAST WEEK'S RESULT
Saturday, March 30 vs. ILLINOIS STATE, H, L, 4-3
 
MVC DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK
Lindsay Haight/Malini Wijesinghe, Bradley
The No. 3 Doubles pairing of junior Lindsay Haight and senior Malini Wijesinghe got Saturday's I-74 Rivalry match against Illinois State off on the right foot as the Bradley pairing rolled to a 6-0 win, helping the Braves earn the doubles point … The Haight/Wijesinghe pairing is relatively new as the duo just began playing together March 7 against Saint Louis … Wijesinghe improved her individual doubles record to a team-best 15-11 this season, while Haight, who upped her season doubles mark to 5-3.
 
PLAYING FOR A WINNING DOZEN
When Bradley visits Valparaiso Saturday, the Braves (11-7) will be shooting for their 12th dual match win of the season … The Braves have won 12 matches in just seven seasons in the program's 42-year history, most-recently a 12-14 (.462) campaign in 2016-17 … Perhaps more significant, a victory in any of Bradley's final four regular-season dual matches will secure the program's first winning season since 1992-93 (14-7).
 
THREE-SET WINS
Including a 2-1 record during Saturday's 4-3 loss to Illinois State, Bradley's singles players own a 25-16 (.610) record in 3-set matches during this dual match season … The ability to battle through the extended matches has allowed the Braves to post a 101-75 (.574) overall record in singles play for the year … The current .574 individual singles winning percentage stands as the team's best since 1992-93 (81-41, .664).
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Ariel Dechter

Ariel Dechter

5' 5"
Senior
Sandra Maletin

Sandra Maletin

5' 10"
Sophomore
Malini Wijesinghe

Malini Wijesinghe

5' 11"
Senior
Lindsay Haight

Lindsay Haight

5' 7"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Ariel Dechter

Ariel Dechter

5' 5"
Senior
Sandra Maletin

Sandra Maletin

5' 10"
Sophomore
Malini Wijesinghe

Malini Wijesinghe

5' 11"
Senior
Lindsay Haight

Lindsay Haight

5' 7"
Redshirt Junior