With the fall sports season kicking off, there are a number of marquee matchups to get excited about as a fan of Bradley athletics. Before everyone makes their plans for this autumn, we asked a couple of our writers which game you should come out to watch this season.
A major opponent comes to town
By Patrick Huber
As we approach the time of year when middle-aged men scream at their television sets on Sundays about their imaginary football teams, Bradley volleyball is ramping up the excitement on the court.
An exciting matchup against in-state rival Illinois from the Big Ten Conference on Sept. 12 is a must watch for everyone from volleyball experts to novices of the game.
Both teams are off to great starts in their respective seasons, with Bradley starting the season 4-2 including a 3-0 streak in their first three contests, a feat not accomplished since 2015. The team’s four victories were over SIU Edwardsville, Eastern Michigan, IUPUI and Albany.
On the other side of the net, the Fighting Illini have also had a strong start, boasting a 4-1
record with wins against Northern Illinois and familiar conference foes to the Braves in Valparaiso, Illinois State and UIC.
Expect a barnburner with both teams vying to pick up a crucial win early in their seasons. Before you go back to finalizing your fantasy football lineup for the week, consider coming out to Renaissance Coliseum on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. for a match that is sure to be a thriller.
The perfect end to Homecoming week
By Rodrigo Perez
Bradley soccer’s homecoming matchup against Missouri State is always one of the highest-attended matches of the season. The game’s atmosphere is always special, with last year’s matchup attracting over 1,000 fans.
Tailgating and a healthy mix of students and Peoria soccer fans at a late Saturday night soccer match sets up an unbeatable end to homecoming week.
Missouri State will once again come into Shea Stadium as a ranked team, making it one of the year’s marquee soccer events in Peoria. The Bears are currently ranked 13th in the nation and will prove once more to be an important test for this rejuvenated Bradley side.
Not only is Missouri State looking good this year, but Bradley soccer heads into their fifth game undefeated with a solid team full of talented athletes. With both squads firing freely, this year’s homecoming game will surely have goals galore on both sides of the pitch.
With no football team for students to support, Bradley soccer is the next best thing for the quintessential college athletic experience.
