A rally for a three-set win by freshman Aimee Manfredo secured the deciding point for Bradley’s first Missouri Valley Conference women’s tennis win in seven years.
The Braves had suffered 49 consecutive MVC dual match defeats since a 5-2 match against Creighton on April 11, 2008, and Bradley has not won an MVC road match since a 4-3 win against the Bluejays on April 8, 2006 in Omaha.
“It was a really fun match,” head coach Matt Tyler said. “We were down going into the singles due to a forfeit because of injury, and our backs were against the wall, but we didn’t lose our edge.”
Missouri State won the first three singles matches to take a 3-1 lead in the match, forcing Bradley to bust out their rally racquets.
Dropping down to number two singles for the first time this year, Brandt started the momentum swing for the Braves with a 7-5, 6-1 win. Dechter followed that with a 6-4, 6-4 win at number one singles to pull Bradley and Missouri State even at 3-3.
Manfredo suffered a loss in her first set at number three singles and faced a 3-2 deficit in the second set, before rallying for a 6-4 win to force a match-deciding third set. The freshman clinched the set and match point with a 6-4 victory.
“For Aimee to rise up to the occasion at that moment was huge,” Tyler said. “I can’t say enough about her performance.”
Following a Saturday full of excitement for Bradley, Sunday wasn’t as kind to the Braves when they traveled to Wichita State for another conference showdown.
Dechter continued her record-breaking season by earning the only point against No. 32 Wichita State by a MVC team this season. The Shockers went on to cruise to a 6-1 win against Bradley for their 52nd consecutive MVC dual match win.
“We knew Wichita State would be a tough matchup, and for Ariel to get a win was amazing,” Tyler said. “The rest of the team was physically and mentally drained, but they played as well as they could given the circumstances.”
Another lengthy streak ended Wednesday afternoon. The team rallied for a 4-3 victory over Illinois State, Bradley’s first win over their I-74 rival since 1987.
Bradley hits the road for the team’s final regular season matches this year. The Braves take on Southern Illinois and Evansville, and Tyler said the team will be boosted by the return of Carly Miles, who made her debut as the team’s sixth singles player against the Redbirds.
“We’re very optimistic about the upcoming matches,” Tyler said. “Carly Miles will be back and able to play after being out all season with an injury, and we’re really excited for her and this opportunity to finish out her senior year.”
