“Brutal.”
That’s how Bradley’s head tennis coach Matt Tyler described the 0-7 loss last Saturday against Western Michigan University.
Bradley had to forfeit one of its double matches and two of its single matches due to injuries to freshman Sandra Maletin (hamstring), sophomore Natalia Barbery (knee) and senior Alejandra De Lasa (knee).
“[It was] definitely a tough way to play a very good Western Michigan team with four players,” Tyler said. “We’re defaulting two matches at [the five and six positions] … that would [have been] a tough mountain for us to climb for sure.”
Already down 3-0, Bradley took on the Broncos in the double matches. Senior Alexa Brandt and junior Malini Wijesinghe lost 6-1, while the duo of freshman Kinga Kovacs and freshman Victoria Gonzalez dropped their match 4-2.
The single matches saw no success either, as all four of the healthy Braves dropped their matches in two sets. Players had to move up in positions as substitutes for their injured teammates.
“It’s tough to default matches,” Wijesinghe said. “It’s tough to play higher than you usually do. It’s mentally exhausting because [we] know all of [us] have to win the match instead of half of [us].”
Injuries have been the conflict of the season, serving as the predominant factor for the Braves’ current nine-game losing streak. As a coach, Tyler said he confronts the losses by keeping spirits high.
“When you go through seasons like this where you’re losing dual matches, the only thing I know how to do is stay positive for the team and keep them positive,” Tyler said. “Hopefully, when we do have a full lineup we’re able to overcome some of those 4-3 losses and turn it in our favor.”
Tyler said the three injured players may be able to compete in the last five games of the season. The timetables for their recovery, however, are not definite.
“Hard to say right now,” Tyler said. “[The injured players are] working back into practice, all three of them. It’s kind of a day-by-day situation for us, and we see how people feel and a lot of times this season it’s been a game-day decision that we’ve had to make.”
The last five matches will come against MVC opponents. Looking ahead to the conference tournament, Wijesinghe said these next five games can adjust the team’s momentum.
“Getting out there and being able to be a dominant team coming off a losing streak is a chance for us to turn it around,” Wijesinghe said. “It’s a chance, even if we lose, to get a good look at these teams before the conference tournament.”
According to Tyler, the mindset of the team going into the final stretch of the season remains positive and healthy, and will contribute the most to potential success.
“Everybody is working hard,” Tyler said. “Everyone is rehabbing as hard as they possibly can and trying to get back in for us which is all we can do at this point.”
The next match is against conference opponent Illinois State, who is also experiencing several injuries and is in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The Braves and the Redbirds will face off tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Bloomington.
