The Bradley’s  Women’s tennis team had a strong performance during the SIUE fall invitational. Lady braves pumped out a 13-12 record during the two-day tournament as they faced off against eastern Illinois University, Saint Louis University, and host team, southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Individually, senior Ashley Thai had a strong performance as she went undefeated on the second day of the tournament play. Freshmen Natalia Barbery split her two number 2 singles flight matches to exit the tournament with an overall 2-1 record.
in doubles play, Ashley Thai translated her stellar performance from her singles victory to the doubles match. Alongside Alexa Brandt, the lady braves pair cruised to a win over eastern
Illinois University. The women’s tennis team will have homecoming weekend off before they host the Bradley invitational.
The women’s volleyball team brought themselves back to a .500 record as they went 2-1 last weekend at the kangaroo classic in Kansas city, Missouri. Senior Kelsey Cave led the way against Omaha in a 3-1 decision as she registered 11 kills and an ace. Sophomore Allison Turner had a winning performance as well as she tacked nine kills into the score sheet while stuffing her opponents for three blocks. The braves would also go on to clean house against Cornell as they swept them in three sets. you’ve heard her name before and you’ll hear it again, Erica Haslag, once again bringing the pain against her opponents as she amounted 15 kills in the rout. She would savagely compile 42 kills through the whole tournament. Rivals be warned.
Unfortunately, the lady braves weren’t able to claim victory in all of the competition last weekend. During the last match, the lady braves competed against the host team, university of Missouri Kansas City. Bradley was beaten decisively in a 0-3 sweep, which brought the braves back down to earth.
The lady’s will be out of town this homecoming weekend as they take on Western Michigan in Indiana on the 17th as they look to push themselves over .500.
Bradley soccer was in Evansville this past weekend for the pro-rehab aces soccer classic. The Braves played Indiana University-Purdue university Fort Wayne (IPFW) Friday.
Bradley lost the thriller 4-3 in overtime. Bradley jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal from Freshman John Pollifrone in the 4th minute, but Bradley proceeded to give up three consecutive goals to IPFW and would not score again until the eighty-fifth minute when sophomore matt Perry scored a header to make it a one goal game. Less than 3 minutes later, junior Jacob Taylor evened the score in the 88th minute to send the game to overtime. However, just nine minutes into overtime IPFW found the back of the net to end the game with Bradley losing 4 to 3. Senior goalkeeper Logan Ketterer had a career-high 11 saves.
The Braves then played Portland on Sunday and lost 3 to 0.
The braves look to turn their season around as they return to Shea Stadium Saturday for the start of conference play and of course, homecoming.
The Bradley men’s golf team teed of the season last week in Chesterton, Indiana at the crusader collegiate hosted by Valparaiso university. The Braves won the first tournament of the year in dominant fashion. Bradley won in outstanding fashion by beating Valparaiso, the second place team, by 30 shots. The Braves’ best team round came in the final round where the Braves shot a combined three under par, 285. This score was the sixth lowest score in school history. Junior Ethan Brue was also the top individual golfer in the tournament shooting two under par in the three round tournament. Also in the top ten were fellow Braves Bobby Jacobs, Zach Jewell, and Drake Bushong. The Braves look to keep the momentum rolling in their next tournament September 19th and 20th in Lemont, IL.
Plenty of other sports have big games or invitationals this weekend or in the subsequent days following. Bradley club hockey squares off against Illinois state university, a major rival of the Braves’ hockey team. A two game series, the Braves will battle the redbirds at 6:15 on Friday and 2:00 on Saturday. Men’s and women’s cross country will hold the Bradley intercollegiate on Friday at Detweiller park. It is the first major invitational for cross-country competitors. Both the men’s and women’s team is expected to have a good overall placement during the invite. The women’s golf team will travel to UIC for a fall invite on Saturday as they travel to their second tournament, just days after, they hit the course again for the cardinal classic hosted by ball state. As the ladies golf team leaves Chicago, the men’s team arrives. The men’s golf team will participate in the John Dallio memorial invite hosted by DePaul University. It’ll be the second tournament this season for the men as they tee off on Monday.