Eastern Michigan Athletics
Thursday, February 27
Riverside, CA
10 a.m. PT
Eastern Michigan University
3
at
4
UC Riverside
Tennis Drops Heartbreaker at UC Riverside, 4-3
2/27/2025 8:42:00 PM | Tennis
Eagles nearly came back from 3-1 down to grab the road victory
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University tennis team battled to the very end, but was unable to overcome a 3-1 deficit as the Eagles (5-6) dropped a heartbreaking 4-3 decision at the University of California Riverside, Feb. 27, on the SRC Tennis Courts in Riverside, Calif.
"It was a tough battle today," Head Coach Ryan Kucera said. "We really fought back, losing the doubles point, and then, only winning one first set in singles, our backs were against the wall. To end up one tie break away from pulling out the win is a big testament to how tough an out we are. In the end, we've learned a lot on this trip and we will use it to push forward into MAC play."
The Highlanders (3-7) took a 1-0 lead as they won the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. At No. 3, the duo of Lara Diaz Zayas (Mar de Ajo, Argentina/SEADEA) and Regina Mendez (Los Cabos, Mexico/Picacho McGregor) combined to capture a 6-4 decision for EMU's lone win in doubles.
Moving into singles play, the Eagles tied the match at 1-1 as Prerna Vichare (Mumbai, India/Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics) won a 6-0, 6-2 decision at No. 2. The hosts responded, however, with wins of their own at No. 4 and No. 5 for a 3-1 lead. The Eagles did not go quietly though as they won the next two matches to tie the score at 3-3. First Mendez battled to a 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 6 before Sabina Brichackova (Cheb, Czechia/Gymnázium Jana Blahoslava) followed suit with her three-set win at No. 3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5). In the end, Viki Hazmukova (Skvorec, Czechia/Skoly Brezova) fell at No. 1 in a third-set tie break, 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(1).
Up Next
Eastern Michigan will play host the University of Illinois Chicago, March 8, at the Chippewa Club in Ypsilanti. The Eagles and Flames are set to start play at 1 p.m.
Follow Us
Stay up to date with EMU tennis by following the team on its social media channels. The team can be found on Instagram (@emu_tennis), X (@EMUEaglesTennis), and Facebook (EMUTennis).
UC Riverside def. Eastern Michigan, 4-3
Singles
#1: Ramey Yu (UCR) def. Viki Hazmukova, 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(1)
#2: Prerna Vichare (EM) def. Olivia McIntosh-Adams, 6-0, 6-2
#3: Sabina Brichackova (EM) def. Niki Shahbazi, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5)
#4: Crystal Kim (UCR) def. Marta Komar, 6-2, 6-4
#5: Kei Kato (UCR) def. Lara Diaz Zayas, 6-1, 6-4
#6: Regina Mendez (EM) def. Sam Condevillamar, 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 1
Doubles
#1: R. Yu/K. Kato (UCR) def. S. Brichackova/P. Vichare, 6-3
#2: C. Kim/O. McIntosh-Adams (UCR) def. V. Hazmukova/M. Komar, 6-3
#3: L. Diaz Zayas/Regina Mendez (EM) def. S. Condevillamar/N. Shahbazi, 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
"It was a tough battle today," Head Coach Ryan Kucera said. "We really fought back, losing the doubles point, and then, only winning one first set in singles, our backs were against the wall. To end up one tie break away from pulling out the win is a big testament to how tough an out we are. In the end, we've learned a lot on this trip and we will use it to push forward into MAC play."
The Highlanders (3-7) took a 1-0 lead as they won the doubles point with victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. At No. 3, the duo of Lara Diaz Zayas (Mar de Ajo, Argentina/SEADEA) and Regina Mendez (Los Cabos, Mexico/Picacho McGregor) combined to capture a 6-4 decision for EMU's lone win in doubles.
Moving into singles play, the Eagles tied the match at 1-1 as Prerna Vichare (Mumbai, India/Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics) won a 6-0, 6-2 decision at No. 2. The hosts responded, however, with wins of their own at No. 4 and No. 5 for a 3-1 lead. The Eagles did not go quietly though as they won the next two matches to tie the score at 3-3. First Mendez battled to a 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 6 before Sabina Brichackova (Cheb, Czechia/Gymnázium Jana Blahoslava) followed suit with her three-set win at No. 3, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5). In the end, Viki Hazmukova (Skvorec, Czechia/Skoly Brezova) fell at No. 1 in a third-set tie break, 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(1).
Up Next
Eastern Michigan will play host the University of Illinois Chicago, March 8, at the Chippewa Club in Ypsilanti. The Eagles and Flames are set to start play at 1 p.m.
Follow Us
Stay up to date with EMU tennis by following the team on its social media channels. The team can be found on Instagram (@emu_tennis), X (@EMUEaglesTennis), and Facebook (EMUTennis).
UC Riverside def. Eastern Michigan, 4-3
Singles
#1: Ramey Yu (UCR) def. Viki Hazmukova, 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(1)
#2: Prerna Vichare (EM) def. Olivia McIntosh-Adams, 6-0, 6-2
#3: Sabina Brichackova (EM) def. Niki Shahbazi, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5)
#4: Crystal Kim (UCR) def. Marta Komar, 6-2, 6-4
#5: Kei Kato (UCR) def. Lara Diaz Zayas, 6-1, 6-4
#6: Regina Mendez (EM) def. Sam Condevillamar, 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-1
Order of Finish: 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 1
Doubles
#1: R. Yu/K. Kato (UCR) def. S. Brichackova/P. Vichare, 6-3
#2: C. Kim/O. McIntosh-Adams (UCR) def. V. Hazmukova/M. Komar, 6-3
#3: L. Diaz Zayas/Regina Mendez (EM) def. S. Condevillamar/N. Shahbazi, 6-4
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
123
576
Ramey Yu / 0 [UCR]
757
#2 Singles Match
12
66
O McIntosh-Adams / 0 [UCR]
02
#3 Singles Match
123
477
Niki Shahbazi / 0 [UCR]
656
#4 Singles Match
12
24
Crystal Kim / 0 [UCR]
66
#5 Singles Match
12
14
Kei Kato / 0 [UCR]
66
#6 Singles Match
123
666
Sam Condevillamar / 0 [UCR]
701
Order of Finish:
2,4,5,6,3,1
Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
/ Tennis
Tennis Senior Day Highlights 2025 vs. BGSU
Sunday, April 13
Tennis Recap vs. NIU
Saturday, April 12
Highlights: EMU Falls to Miami in Close 4-3 Match
Monday, March 31
Tennis Claws Back to Defeat Ball State, 4-3
Monday, March 24