During the second day of the Chicago State Cougar Invitational singles play, tension was high on the Chicago State University tennis courts.
As the singles bracket progressed into the semifinals, all schools invited were treated to what may have been the best match of the entire weekend.
Bradley junior Ariel Dechter faced off against sophomore teammate Alejandra de Lasa in a tie break during the third and final set.
Head coach Matt Tyler could only watch as the transfer from Virginia Commonwealth University took on Dechter, the most decorated player in Bradley tennis history.
“It’s kind of a tough thing, for the players and the coaching staff as well,” Tyler said. “We as a coaching staff try to watch and stay away and not have too much input.”
Dechter, a Mundelein Illinois native, wasn’t interested in playing her teammates, but she was stuck doing so in two of her three matches during the Cougar Invitational.
“[I] drove all the way to Chicago to just play my teammates, basically,” Dechter said. “I wanted to get new matches. We play in practice all the time.”
This was said not out of spite of playing her teammates, but from her competitive spirit, which was crucial in bringing the Bradley women’s tennis program its best season in 20 years in 2014-2015.
The historic season was capped off with Dechter setting the school record for wins at the No. 2 singles position and wins by a sophomomore with 29, while also being the first Bradley tennis player to be named All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).
While this honor subsequently makes her one of the best tennis players in Bradley history, her start at Bradley began in an unconventional way.
“Coach Tyler isn’t the one that recruited me,” Dechter said. “A month before I got here, [the previous coach] went to a different school, so I didn’t even know what to expect. Freshman year was a little difficult.”
After her freshman year, she said Tyler had her focus on her serve and her doubles play, which was crucial in helping her succeed in her sophomore campaign.
However, Dechter credited her competitive personality as one of the main reasons for propelling her to the top ranks of the MVC.
“I don’t care who I’m playing,” Dechter said. “Like Wichita; They win conference. In the past, my teammates… didn’t think they could win, they were like ‘There’s no way.’ Why would you think that? You have to compete.”
Decther said her contesting nature was influenced by her childhood.
“That’s how I was brought up,” Dechter said. “I have a younger brother, [and] we’d always compete with each other [in tennis].”
From her childhood competitions to NCAA Division I tennis matches, Tyler said her ambitious nature is invaluable to the team.
“Knowing that you’re going to have a person like that show up day in and day out not only with a smile on her face, but ready to work hard, it just brings the entire energy of the program up,” Tyler said. “She’s got that winning mentality. It doesn’t really matter who she’s competing against, you know she’s going to be in the mix and has a chance to win.”
As for this season, Dechter said being named All-MVC accomplished one of her career goals. The honor was also monumental for the tennis program as a whole.
“I think it sets more of a tone,” Dechter said. “They should be your goals, that should be something you’re striving to get. I feel like [before] it was an outside dream that no one was ever going to get it.”
Tyler also noted how big Dechter’s achievement was for the program.
“It’s a critical first step,” Tyler said. “To put our name up there in the same group of people is really important for everybody… A lot of times, once you break that barrier, then the flood gates may open too.”
As Dechter’s junior year begins, she noted her list of goals has realigned to fit last year’s accomplishments, and she’d rather go one step higher.
“Be proud, but never satisfied, that’s what my coach from back home says,” Dechter said. “A goal of mine has always been to be Missouri Valley Player of the Year.”
