Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 14
Cleveland, OH
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Cleveland State
Tennis Faces Cleveland State & Butler This Weekend
2/12/2025 10:53:00 AM | Tennis
Eagles set to travel to Cleveland before playing host to the Bulldogs Sunday
| Spring Dual #7 - at CLEVELAND STATE | |
| Date | Friday, February 14 | 2 p.m. |
| Venue | Medical Mutal Tennis Pavilion (Cleveland, Ohio) |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live | n/a |
| @EMUEaglesTennis | @EMUAthletics | |
| Spring Dual #8 - vs. BUTLER | |
| Date | Sunday, February 16 | 2 p.m. |
| Venue | Chippewa Club (Ypsilanti) |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live | Live Results |
| Tickets | FREE ADMISSION |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University tennis team is set to play a pair of duals this week as the Eagles will play their fourth road match in the last five competitions with a trip to Cleveland State University Friday, Feb. 14, before returning home to play host to Butler University Sunday, Feb. 16. The Eagles (2-4) and Vikings (3-4) will play at 2 p.m. inside the Medical Mutual Tennis Pavilion in Cleveland while the Eagles and Bulldogs (0-6) will meet at 2 p.m. inside the Chippewa Club in Ypsilanti.
FIRST SERVES
» Eastern is coming off an 0-2 weekend following a 5-2 home loss to Oakland (Feb. 1) and a 4-0 loss at Michigan State (Feb. 2).
» The loss to Oakland snapped a 13-match home winning streak for the Eagles. The last time EMU lost at home was April 16, 2023, in a 5-2 score to Miami.
» The Eagles are 4-for-6 in claiming the doubles point this season. EMU claimed 13-of-23 last year, one season removed from earning the point just four times.
» Eastern is 1-4 all-time when playing on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) and 0-2 when playing on the road. The last Feb. 14 match the Eagles played was a 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh in 2015.
» Prerna Vichare captured another doubles win, bringing her career total to 52. She is tied with teammate Sabina Brichackova with both players four shy of breaking into the program's all-time top 20.
» The 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released Jan. 7 with the Eagles voted to finish third with 35 points while Miami (48) and Toledo (38) were ranked ahead of EMU. Eastern was voted to finish fourth one year ago and did so to earn its first MAC Tournament appearance since 2018.
» The Eagles' 2024-25 roster features 10 players, including six returnees and four newcomers. In total, nine different nations are represented on the roster, including the U.S., Argentina, Czechia, India, Israel, Mexico, North Macedonia, Poland, and Russia.
» Ryan Kucera returns for his second season as the team's head coach and will look to guide the team to the MAC Tournament for the second year in a row, which would mark the first time it has happened since the 2014 and 2015 tournaments.
» Players are not the only addition to the roster this year as the coaching staff has added both Masha Polishchuk and Andrew Dobbs. Polishchuk, a MAC champion during her playing career at Ball State, will serve as a graduate assistant coach while Dobbs will serve as an undergraduate assistant.
NOT FEELING THE LOVE
The dual at Cleveland State will be played on Valentine's Day, marking the sixth time in program history the Eagles have played on Feb. 14. In the previous five matches, the Eagles have not felt the love from their opponents as EMU is 1-4 in those competitions and has lost three in a row, including a 5-2 setback at Pittsburgh in 2015. The lone win came at home in 2004 in a 6-1 defeat of UIC.
KNOW THE FOE: CLEVELAND STATE
The Vikings sport a 3-4 overall record and stand 2-1 in home matches, including a 4-3 defeat of Miami, Jan. 26, in their last home competition. Recently, CSU played two matches in Morgantown, W.Va., where it lost to host West Virginia, 4-2, before scoring a 4-0 win over Mount St. Mary's (Md.).
IN THE SERIES: CLEVELAND STATE
Eastern holds a 4-2 record in the all-time series with Cleveland State with the result of first match (March 30, 1993) unknown. The Eagles won the last meeting, 6-1, Feb. 4, 2024, to snap a two-dual skid against the Vikings, who won the last meeting in Cleveland, Jan. 29, 2023, 4-3. That win by CSU snapped a two-match winning streak in Cleveland for the Eagles.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
In the six known results between the Eagles and Vikings, four have been decided by one point with Eastern winning twice by a 4-3 score before Cleveland State won the next two matches, 4-3. The streak of single-point duals ended last year (Feb. 4, 2024) with the Eagles' 6-1 home win.
THE LAST TIME VS. CLEVELAND STATE
Eastern captured the doubles point before winning 5-of-6 singles matches to take a 6-1 decision over visiting Cleveland State, Feb. 4, 2024. The duo of Daniella Shved and Prerna Vichare won, 7-5, at No. 2 doubles to secure the doubles point and 1-0 lead before Shved (No. 2), Andrea Quiroz (No. 3), Kseniia Saenko (No. 4), Linda Eloundou (No. 5), and Sabina Brichackova (No. 6) each won their singles matches.
KNOW THE FOE: BUTLER
The Bulldogs, who host Illinois State, Feb. 12, stand 0-6 this season and are 0-5 on the road after facing tough competition. Butler's first five matches came on the road against Power 4 conference teams, including Northwestern, Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana, and Cincinnati, to open the season. In their most recent dual, the Bulldogs dropped a 4-3 decision at home to visiting Arkansas State.
IN THE SERIES: BUTLER
Eastern holds a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series with Butler, but has dropped the last two meetings, both in Indianapolis, by 4-1 scores. The last time the teams met in Ypsilanti was Jan. 24, 2014, a 7-0 win for the Eagles, while the last win in the series for EMU was a 4-3 win at Butler, April 2, 2021, a win that snapped a four-match streak of EMU shutting out Butler.
THE LAST TIME VS. BUTLER
Eastern dropped a 4-1 decision at Butler, Feb. 16, 2024, with Andrea Quiroz winning her No. 3 singles match in straight sets for the lone point for the Eagles. EMU held the lead in two other singles matches, but Butler had won three singles matches and the doubles point to clinch the dual.
LOOKING BACK: LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles last played Feb. 1-2 with a 5-2 home loss to Oakland and a 4-0 road loss at Michigan State. Against the Golden Grizzlies, Kseniia Saenko (No. 5) and Regina Mendez (No. 6) were able to secure singles wins for the lone scoring on the weekend. Additionally, Lara Diaz Zayas and Prerna Vichare captured their No. 3 doubles match against OU to give Vichare her 52nd career doubles win and moving her closer to the program's all-time top 20.
HOME COOKING
The loss to Oakland snapped the Eagles' 13-match home winning streak that spanned the entire 2023-24 season (11-0) and a sweep of Ferris State (Jan. 18) to open the 2024-25 season. The loss to the Golden Grizzlies was the first for EMU since the finale of the 2022-23 season, a 5-2 setback to Miami, April 16, 2023, at the Chippewa Club.
POINTING IT OUT
During the 2022-23 season, the Eagles won the doubles point just four times in 15 duals (26.7 percent). With Ryan Kucera taking over last year, the 2023-24 squad won 13 doubles points in 23 duals (56.5 percent). Of those 13 wins, five each were secured at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions with the remaining three secured at No. 2. Through the dual at Michigan State (Feb. 2), the Eagles are 4-of-6 in doubles points with three coming at the No. 2 spot and one at No. 1.
ENDING A DROUGHT?
The goal every year is to win the MAC Tournament and earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament. The last time the Eagles were able to do so came in 2001 when they swept through the MAC Tournament hosted by Marshall with wins over Ball State (4-1), Western Michigan (4-2), and the host Thundering Herd (4-3). EMU advanced to the NCAA First Round where they fell at No. 8 Notre Dame, 0-4.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
The 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released Jan. 7 with the Eagles earning 35 points to rank third on the list behind Miami (48 points) and Toledo (38). The remaining rankings, which are based upon votes from the league's coaches, were Northern Illinois (30) in fourth, Ball State (35) fifth, Buffalo (23) sixth, Western Michigan (14) seventh, and Bowling Green (seven) eighth. Additionally, the coaches cast votes on who would win the MAC Tournament, which is slated for April 24-25 in Toledo, Ohio, with Miami earning five votes while EMU, Buffalo, and Toledo each earned one.
In Ryan Kucera's first season with the Eagles (2023-24), Eastern was voted tied for fourth in the preseason before finishing fourth and earning a berth in the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2018. EMU dropped a 4-3 decision to host Toledo in the semifinals.
LOOKING TO REPEAT
Last year, the Eagles finished fourth in the conference standings to earn the fourth and final position in the MAC Tournament, the team's first appearance in the conference event since the 2018 championships. Should Eastern return to the tournament this year, it would mark the first time the Eagles have qualified for the MAC Tournament in back-to-back seasons since earning berths in the 2014 and 2015 events. Eastern lost to Miami, 4-2, in the final of the 2014 event before falling to the RedHawks, 4-1, in the semifinals one year later.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
Sabina Brichackova captured two wins at the MAC Fall Individuals in Hamilton, Ohio, Oct. 24-27, to record the 99th and 100th combined wins of her career. The senior is the first to reach 100 wins in a career since the 2017-18 season when both Ani Gogvadze (117) and Andrea Matrinovska (111) capped their careers in Ypsilanti.
UP THE LADDER
Sabina Brichackova and doubles partner Prerna Vichare have continued to do well in doubles play as each player has accrued 52 career wins with Vichare securing hers against Oakland (Feb. 1). Currently, Miriam Westerink (2008-12) and Avi Gogvadze (2014-18) are tied for 19th with 56 wins, meaning Brichackova and Vichare are four wins from joining the all-time top 20.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern returns to action at home Saturday, Feb. 22, with a doubleheader inside the Chippewa Club in Ypsilanti. EMU will face the University of Findlay at 3:30 p.m. before playing Eastern Illinois University at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for both.
FOLLOW US
For all things EMU Tennis, be sure to check out the team's social media accounts, including EMUEaglesTennis on X (formerly Twitter) and EMU_Tennis on Instagram.
FIRST SERVES
» Eastern is coming off an 0-2 weekend following a 5-2 home loss to Oakland (Feb. 1) and a 4-0 loss at Michigan State (Feb. 2).
» The loss to Oakland snapped a 13-match home winning streak for the Eagles. The last time EMU lost at home was April 16, 2023, in a 5-2 score to Miami.
» The Eagles are 4-for-6 in claiming the doubles point this season. EMU claimed 13-of-23 last year, one season removed from earning the point just four times.
» Eastern is 1-4 all-time when playing on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) and 0-2 when playing on the road. The last Feb. 14 match the Eagles played was a 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh in 2015.
» Prerna Vichare captured another doubles win, bringing her career total to 52. She is tied with teammate Sabina Brichackova with both players four shy of breaking into the program's all-time top 20.
» The 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released Jan. 7 with the Eagles voted to finish third with 35 points while Miami (48) and Toledo (38) were ranked ahead of EMU. Eastern was voted to finish fourth one year ago and did so to earn its first MAC Tournament appearance since 2018.
» The Eagles' 2024-25 roster features 10 players, including six returnees and four newcomers. In total, nine different nations are represented on the roster, including the U.S., Argentina, Czechia, India, Israel, Mexico, North Macedonia, Poland, and Russia.
» Ryan Kucera returns for his second season as the team's head coach and will look to guide the team to the MAC Tournament for the second year in a row, which would mark the first time it has happened since the 2014 and 2015 tournaments.
» Players are not the only addition to the roster this year as the coaching staff has added both Masha Polishchuk and Andrew Dobbs. Polishchuk, a MAC champion during her playing career at Ball State, will serve as a graduate assistant coach while Dobbs will serve as an undergraduate assistant.
NOT FEELING THE LOVE
The dual at Cleveland State will be played on Valentine's Day, marking the sixth time in program history the Eagles have played on Feb. 14. In the previous five matches, the Eagles have not felt the love from their opponents as EMU is 1-4 in those competitions and has lost three in a row, including a 5-2 setback at Pittsburgh in 2015. The lone win came at home in 2004 in a 6-1 defeat of UIC.
KNOW THE FOE: CLEVELAND STATE
The Vikings sport a 3-4 overall record and stand 2-1 in home matches, including a 4-3 defeat of Miami, Jan. 26, in their last home competition. Recently, CSU played two matches in Morgantown, W.Va., where it lost to host West Virginia, 4-2, before scoring a 4-0 win over Mount St. Mary's (Md.).
IN THE SERIES: CLEVELAND STATE
Eastern holds a 4-2 record in the all-time series with Cleveland State with the result of first match (March 30, 1993) unknown. The Eagles won the last meeting, 6-1, Feb. 4, 2024, to snap a two-dual skid against the Vikings, who won the last meeting in Cleveland, Jan. 29, 2023, 4-3. That win by CSU snapped a two-match winning streak in Cleveland for the Eagles.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
In the six known results between the Eagles and Vikings, four have been decided by one point with Eastern winning twice by a 4-3 score before Cleveland State won the next two matches, 4-3. The streak of single-point duals ended last year (Feb. 4, 2024) with the Eagles' 6-1 home win.
THE LAST TIME VS. CLEVELAND STATE
Eastern captured the doubles point before winning 5-of-6 singles matches to take a 6-1 decision over visiting Cleveland State, Feb. 4, 2024. The duo of Daniella Shved and Prerna Vichare won, 7-5, at No. 2 doubles to secure the doubles point and 1-0 lead before Shved (No. 2), Andrea Quiroz (No. 3), Kseniia Saenko (No. 4), Linda Eloundou (No. 5), and Sabina Brichackova (No. 6) each won their singles matches.
KNOW THE FOE: BUTLER
The Bulldogs, who host Illinois State, Feb. 12, stand 0-6 this season and are 0-5 on the road after facing tough competition. Butler's first five matches came on the road against Power 4 conference teams, including Northwestern, Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana, and Cincinnati, to open the season. In their most recent dual, the Bulldogs dropped a 4-3 decision at home to visiting Arkansas State.
IN THE SERIES: BUTLER
Eastern holds a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series with Butler, but has dropped the last two meetings, both in Indianapolis, by 4-1 scores. The last time the teams met in Ypsilanti was Jan. 24, 2014, a 7-0 win for the Eagles, while the last win in the series for EMU was a 4-3 win at Butler, April 2, 2021, a win that snapped a four-match streak of EMU shutting out Butler.
THE LAST TIME VS. BUTLER
Eastern dropped a 4-1 decision at Butler, Feb. 16, 2024, with Andrea Quiroz winning her No. 3 singles match in straight sets for the lone point for the Eagles. EMU held the lead in two other singles matches, but Butler had won three singles matches and the doubles point to clinch the dual.
LOOKING BACK: LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles last played Feb. 1-2 with a 5-2 home loss to Oakland and a 4-0 road loss at Michigan State. Against the Golden Grizzlies, Kseniia Saenko (No. 5) and Regina Mendez (No. 6) were able to secure singles wins for the lone scoring on the weekend. Additionally, Lara Diaz Zayas and Prerna Vichare captured their No. 3 doubles match against OU to give Vichare her 52nd career doubles win and moving her closer to the program's all-time top 20.
HOME COOKING
The loss to Oakland snapped the Eagles' 13-match home winning streak that spanned the entire 2023-24 season (11-0) and a sweep of Ferris State (Jan. 18) to open the 2024-25 season. The loss to the Golden Grizzlies was the first for EMU since the finale of the 2022-23 season, a 5-2 setback to Miami, April 16, 2023, at the Chippewa Club.
POINTING IT OUT
During the 2022-23 season, the Eagles won the doubles point just four times in 15 duals (26.7 percent). With Ryan Kucera taking over last year, the 2023-24 squad won 13 doubles points in 23 duals (56.5 percent). Of those 13 wins, five each were secured at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions with the remaining three secured at No. 2. Through the dual at Michigan State (Feb. 2), the Eagles are 4-of-6 in doubles points with three coming at the No. 2 spot and one at No. 1.
ENDING A DROUGHT?
The goal every year is to win the MAC Tournament and earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament. The last time the Eagles were able to do so came in 2001 when they swept through the MAC Tournament hosted by Marshall with wins over Ball State (4-1), Western Michigan (4-2), and the host Thundering Herd (4-3). EMU advanced to the NCAA First Round where they fell at No. 8 Notre Dame, 0-4.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
The 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released Jan. 7 with the Eagles earning 35 points to rank third on the list behind Miami (48 points) and Toledo (38). The remaining rankings, which are based upon votes from the league's coaches, were Northern Illinois (30) in fourth, Ball State (35) fifth, Buffalo (23) sixth, Western Michigan (14) seventh, and Bowling Green (seven) eighth. Additionally, the coaches cast votes on who would win the MAC Tournament, which is slated for April 24-25 in Toledo, Ohio, with Miami earning five votes while EMU, Buffalo, and Toledo each earned one.
In Ryan Kucera's first season with the Eagles (2023-24), Eastern was voted tied for fourth in the preseason before finishing fourth and earning a berth in the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2018. EMU dropped a 4-3 decision to host Toledo in the semifinals.
LOOKING TO REPEAT
Last year, the Eagles finished fourth in the conference standings to earn the fourth and final position in the MAC Tournament, the team's first appearance in the conference event since the 2018 championships. Should Eastern return to the tournament this year, it would mark the first time the Eagles have qualified for the MAC Tournament in back-to-back seasons since earning berths in the 2014 and 2015 events. Eastern lost to Miami, 4-2, in the final of the 2014 event before falling to the RedHawks, 4-1, in the semifinals one year later.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
Sabina Brichackova captured two wins at the MAC Fall Individuals in Hamilton, Ohio, Oct. 24-27, to record the 99th and 100th combined wins of her career. The senior is the first to reach 100 wins in a career since the 2017-18 season when both Ani Gogvadze (117) and Andrea Matrinovska (111) capped their careers in Ypsilanti.
UP THE LADDER
Sabina Brichackova and doubles partner Prerna Vichare have continued to do well in doubles play as each player has accrued 52 career wins with Vichare securing hers against Oakland (Feb. 1). Currently, Miriam Westerink (2008-12) and Avi Gogvadze (2014-18) are tied for 19th with 56 wins, meaning Brichackova and Vichare are four wins from joining the all-time top 20.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern returns to action at home Saturday, Feb. 22, with a doubleheader inside the Chippewa Club in Ypsilanti. EMU will face the University of Findlay at 3:30 p.m. before playing Eastern Illinois University at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for both.
FOLLOW US
For all things EMU Tennis, be sure to check out the team's social media accounts, including EMUEaglesTennis on X (formerly Twitter) and EMU_Tennis on Instagram.
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