The Bradley tennis team was on the road this past weekend to face Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Saint Louis. It moved to 2-2 on the young season with a full-distance loss to the Cougars and 5-2 match victory over the Billikens.
Bradley started Friday off against SIUE by winning only one doubles match at No. 2 doubles. The duo of sophomores Bozana Lojpur and Nikki Perlwitz got the sole doubles win 6-3. Singles was Bradley’s strength on Friday, winning at No. 1, No. 4 and No. 5 all in straight sets.
A chance to bounce back was quick on the horizon on Saturday against the Billikens in O’Fallon, Illinois. The Braves won a tight match 5-2.
Doubles continued to be an issue for Bradley Saturday. It allowed Saint Louis to clinch the doubles point. The No. 2 match was a left unfinished at 6-6, as the point was already determined.
Singles proved to be the driving factor again, as the Braves won the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5. The win did not come easy, however, as four of the five wins went to a decisive third sets.
Head coach Matt Tyler believes his team’s fitness allows them to go the distance in singles.
“We do a lot of conditioning,” Tyler said. “When it comes to winning third set matches, it really comes down to who’s going to be able to stay out there longer. The physical fitness is where we’re able to make ground on better teams.”
The doubles point seems to be an issue for the Braves early on this season, managing to only pick it up in their opening match against IUPUI.
“[Doubles] is something we’re going to continue to focus on,” Tyler said. “We have not played our best doubles to this point. We’re still figuring things out.”
Tyler says winning the doubles point gives a mental advantage heading into singles.
“From a mental standpoint, knowing that you have a bit of a lead, it takes the pressure off the singles matches,” Tyler said. “It certainly makes things easier for us. When you can get [the doubles point] it has a positive impact on everybody.”
The difference in doubles and singles play comes down to precision according to Tyler.
“You’ve got your opponent at the net,” Tyler said. “It affects the return of serve, where we’re trying to take the ball when we’re hitting the alleys. You have to be a bit more precise or else you’re leaving that ball kind of hanging up for your opponent to just put away.”
At practice, Tyler plans on working on first shots, particularly in doubles at practice this week.
“The biggest key … is the first shot, the serve and the return,” Tyler said. “We’ve struggled with some double faults giving our opponents free points when we’re serving and then missing returns as well.”
The Braves head to Missouri this weekend to meet UMKC today at 2 p.m., and Mizzou tomorrow at 3 p.m. ending their four-match road trip.
