ST. LOUIS, MO – Bradley Tennis has been picked third in the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Women's Tennis Preseason Poll, marking the second time in three years the Braves have earned a top three finish, according to an announcement by the league office Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Braves were last picked third in 2020, Last season, Bradley earned a fourth-place selection, just one point behind Drake. In 2020 and 2021, BU earned one first place vote from Valley coaches.
 
Bradley earned a third straight winning season last spring for the first time since 1990-93. It was also the first time the Braves have achieved three straight winning seasons as members of the MVC. BU retains all but one rotation player from last year's squad, including Bozana Lojpur and Nikki Perlwitz, who each rank highly in multiple statistical categories in program history. 
 
Lojpur sits eighth in career singles wins with 54 while Perlwitz is just one behind her at 53 and in ninth place. Both are in the top 10 in career singles winning percentage Lojpur also ranks 5^th in career doubles winning percentage (.573) She also ranks 12^th in career combined wins (97), just one shy of a four-way tie for 10^th. 
 
Newcomers are also poised to make an immediate impact for the Braves.
 
Freshman Kirstin Hailey got off to a flying start last fall, earning a 7-2 record including the Flight 4 Singles Championship at the Redbird Invite. Hailey also played exclusively at Flight 1 Doubles.
 
Bradley also added the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year in Madalena Andrade. The transfer split time between Flights 3 and 4 Singles in the fall, while spending most of her time paired with Maria Bezmenova in Flight 2 Doubles.
 
First serve for the Braves is set for January 21^st against DePaul at Lakeshore Sport and Fitness in Chicago, IL. Match updates and information will be provided on BradleyBraves.com and on Twitter @BradleyUTennis.