PEORIA, Ill. -- Senior Hannah Thompson collected 21 digs and team-high 14 kills as she broke the Bradley career digs record, while fellow senior Rachel Pranger added 11 kills and 23 digs in her first outing since the end of the 2019 season; but preseason Mid-American Conference favorite Central Michigan topped the Braves 25-18, 22-25, 25-21, 25-15 Friday in the season opener for both teams at Renaissance Coliseum.
Bradley (0-1 overall) had won its last seven season opener played at home dating back to the 1990 season, with that streak snapped by the Chippewas to close out the first day of action at the 2021 CEFCU Invitational Friday.