Eastern Michigan Athletics
Tennis Adds Maria Potsi to Coaching Staff
8/23/2023 2:30:00 PM | Tennis
Graduate assistant joins EMU after successful playing career at Northern Illinois, Illinois State
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University tennis program has added Maria Potsi to the staff as a graduate assistant coach, Head Coach Ryan Kucera announced today, Aug. 23. Potsi comes to Ypsilanti after serving as a graduate assistant last year at Illinois State University and a successful playing career at both ISU and Northern Illinois University.
"I couldn't be more excited to add Maria to our staff," Kucera said. "She provides experience both as a championship winning student-athlete and in her previous role as a graduate assistant. She is both professional and personable. Maria will be a strong role model for our student-athletes. I look forward to the positive impact she will have on this team both on and off the court."
Potsi, who is set for the second graduate assistant position, will assist Kucera with day-to-day operations of the program and coaching duties while also continuing her education. She recently graduated from ISU with her Master's in Biomechanics and will be working toward her Master's in Molecular Biology at EMU.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity that the Eastern Michigan University staff provided me and I am extremely excited to be a part of the EMU tennis team working alongside Ryan Kucera," Potsi said. "I believe that with his leadership and my experience, both as a Division I student-athlete and graduate assistant coach, we can help shape a very successful, committed, and motivated team. I look forward to working with such an incredible group of young women while also teaching them and learning from them on and off the court."
Potsi most recently served as the graduate assistant at Illinois State where she helped the Redbirds to the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference regular season title. Prior to that, she played for the Redbirds as a graduate student for the 2021-22 season, one that saw her earn a berth into the 2022 NCAA Tournament after winning the MVC Tournament. An All-MVC selection for both No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles, Potsi was also a standout academically as she earned accolades as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar Athlete as well as an MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention Team selection.
A native of Athens, Greece, Potsi got her start in collegiate tennis as a four-year member of the NIU program where she played at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles throughout her time in DeKalb. A multiple-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honoree, Potsi collected 48 career singles victories for the Huskies.
For all things EMU Tennis, be sure to check out the team's social media accounts, including EMUEaglesTennis on Twitter and EMU_Tennis on Instagram.
"I couldn't be more excited to add Maria to our staff," Kucera said. "She provides experience both as a championship winning student-athlete and in her previous role as a graduate assistant. She is both professional and personable. Maria will be a strong role model for our student-athletes. I look forward to the positive impact she will have on this team both on and off the court."
Potsi, who is set for the second graduate assistant position, will assist Kucera with day-to-day operations of the program and coaching duties while also continuing her education. She recently graduated from ISU with her Master's in Biomechanics and will be working toward her Master's in Molecular Biology at EMU.
"I am very grateful for the opportunity that the Eastern Michigan University staff provided me and I am extremely excited to be a part of the EMU tennis team working alongside Ryan Kucera," Potsi said. "I believe that with his leadership and my experience, both as a Division I student-athlete and graduate assistant coach, we can help shape a very successful, committed, and motivated team. I look forward to working with such an incredible group of young women while also teaching them and learning from them on and off the court."
Potsi most recently served as the graduate assistant at Illinois State where she helped the Redbirds to the 2023 Missouri Valley Conference regular season title. Prior to that, she played for the Redbirds as a graduate student for the 2021-22 season, one that saw her earn a berth into the 2022 NCAA Tournament after winning the MVC Tournament. An All-MVC selection for both No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles, Potsi was also a standout academically as she earned accolades as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar Athlete as well as an MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention Team selection.
A native of Athens, Greece, Potsi got her start in collegiate tennis as a four-year member of the NIU program where she played at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles throughout her time in DeKalb. A multiple-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Week honoree, Potsi collected 48 career singles victories for the Huskies.
For all things EMU Tennis, be sure to check out the team's social media accounts, including EMUEaglesTennis on Twitter and EMU_Tennis on Instagram.
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