BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - The Bradley men's tennis team made I-74 Rivalry history Friday night, snapping a 59-match losing streak against Illinois State with a 5-2 victory at Evergreen Racquet Club.  Bradley (14-12, 2-2 MVC) had not beaten Illinois State (7-13, 1-3 MVC) in a men's tennis match since a 5-4 win April 23, 1971.

Sophomore Arthur Romanet earned the night's clinching point in a tightly-contested match, taking down Willi Peter at No. 5 singles, 6-4 and 7-6.  Romanet was a double winner for the Braves Friday, teaming with sophomore Ashton Kalhorn for an 8-3 win at No. 3 doubles to set the evening's tone.

Freshman Ahmed Albitar also picked up a pair of wins, teaming with Hamish Weerasinghe for an 8-6 victory at No. 2 doubles to secure the night's first point, then earning the final point with a 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles.

Illinois State took a 2-1 lead in the match when Tuomas Manner downed Weerasinghe at No. 2 singles (6-4, 6-0) and Skip Span followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Kalhorn at No. 3 singles.

Sophomore Justin Abrams evened the match by earning a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 6 singles and Juan Diego Cuadrado moved the Braves to within one point of the historic victory with a 7-5, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles.

Bradley will wrap up the regular-season with a Saturday afternoon Valley dual at Southern Illinois.  With a win against the Salukis, Bradley will secure the No. 3 seed for next week's State Farm MVC Men's Championship.  Southern Illinois (7-12, 1-2 MVC) also will host Illinois State Sunday morning.
 
BRADLEY MEN'S TENNIS DUAL MATCH RESULTS
Bradley at Illinois State - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 20, 2012 at Bloomington, Ill. (Evergreen Racquet Club)

Bradley 5, at Illinois State 2

Doubles
1. Palaez/Manner (ISU) def. Abrams/Cuadrado (BU)            8-6
2. Albitar/Weerasinghe (BU) def. Appanervand/Span (ISU)     8-6
3. Kalhorn/Romanet (BU) def. Peter/Jordan Badenko (ISU)     8-3

Singles
1. Ahmed Albitar (BU) def. Alexander Pelaez (ISU)           7-5, 6-4
2. Tuomas Manner (ISU) def. Hamish Weerasinghe (BU)         6-4, 6-0
3. Skip Span (ISU) def. Ashton Kalhorn (BU)                 6-2, 6-2
4. Juan Diego Cuadrado (BU) def. Muddappa Appanervand (ISU) 7-5, 6-3
5. Arthur Romanet (BU) def. Willi Peter (ISU)               6-4, 7-6
6. Justin Abrams (BU) def. Jacob Wilson (ISU)               6-4, 7-5

Updated Records
Bradley:  14-12, 2-2 MVC
Illinois State:  7-13, 1-3 MVC