SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri State women's tennis team got off to a hot start in Missouri Valley play as they defeated Bradley, 5-2, Saturday afternoon.  
 
"It was a great start to our conference season across the board today," Head Coach Hannah Keeling said. "The girls did great and showed a lot of guts. I cannot ask for more as a coach with how they approached this match. We are now going to reset and get focused for Illinois State tomorrow at home." 
 
With the win, MSU ran its MVC opener winning streak to seven as the Bears have not dropped a conference opener since March of 2014. 
   
MSU was able to secure the doubles point for the sixth time this season, to gain the early 1-0 advantage. Ellie Burger and Claire Martin defeated the reigning MVC duo of the week in Sandra Malentin and Bronzetti Sanchez of Bradley at the No. 1 position, 6-1. The Bears clinched the doubles point in the No. 3 match courtesy of Mary Houston and Mara Presot shutting out the Braves' Bozana Loipur and Nikki Perlwitz (6-0). 
 
In No. 1 singles, Hana Sisirak was defeated by Bradley's Sandra Malentin (6-1, 3-6, 6-3). Alyson Piskulic regained the lead for MSU as she swept the Braves' Natalia Barbery, 6-1, 6-2, in the No. 5 match. In her eighth singles appearance of the year, Houston picked up a dominant win over Maria Bezmenova of Bradley (6-4, 6-2) in the No. 4 position. Burger was impressive in her return to the No. 2 spot as she clinched the win for the Bears with a sweep of BU's Bozana Loipur, 6-2, 7-5.  
 
The visitors fought back a win in the No. 6 match as Nikki Perlwitz defeated Martin (7-6, 6-2) before Missouri State finished its day with a win in the No. 3 position, as Tiffani Nash notched a three-set win over Bronzetti Sanchez (0-6, 6-2, 7-5). 
   
The Bears (7-8) will be back in action tomorrow when they host Illinois State at 10 a.m. 

Missouri State 5, Bradley 2  
 
Singles competition  
1. Maletin, Sandra (BRAD) def. Hana Sisirak (MSU) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
2. Ellie Burger (MSU) def. Lojpur, Bozana (BRAD) 6-2, 7-5
3. Tiffani Nash (MSU) def. Sanchez Bronzetti, V (BRAD) 0-6, 6-2, 7-5
4. Mary Houston (MSU) def. Bezmenova, Maria (BRAD) 6-4, 6-2
5. Alyson Piskulic (MSU) def. Barbery, Natalia (BRAD) 6-1, 6-2
6. Perlwitz, Nikki (BRAD) def. Claire Martin (MSU) 7-6, 6-2  
 
Doubles competition  
1. Claire Martin/Ellie Burger (MSU) def. Maletin, Sandra/Sanchez Bronzetti (BRAD) 6-1
2. Marjanovic, Nina/Bezmenova, Maria (BRAD) def. Alyson Piskulic/Hana Sisirak (MSU) 6-3
3. Mara Presot/Mary Houston (MSU) def. Lojpur, Bozana/Perlwitz, Nikki (BRAD) 6-0
 
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,5,4,2,6,3)