Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 4
Toledo, OH
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Toledo
Tennis Hits the Road to Face Toledo & Buffalo
4/3/2025 12:59:00 PM | Tennis
Second half of the MAC slate starts Friday against the Rockets
| Spring Dual #19 | at TOLEDO | |
| Date | Friday, April 4 | 1 p.m. |
| Venue | Twos Athletic Club | Toledo, Ohio |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live | Live Results |
| @EMUEaglesTennis | @EMUAthletics | |
| Spring Dual #20 | at BUFFALO | |
| Date | Sunday, April 6 | 12 p.m. |
| Venue | Miller Tennis Center | Buffalo, N.Y. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes |
| Live | Live Results |
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University tennis team returns to the road this week with two crucial Mid-American Conference matches as the Eagles will venture to take on the University of Toledo Friday, April 4, in Toledo, Ohio, before capping the week with a Sunday, April 6, match against the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y. The Eagles (9-9, 2-3 MAC) and Rockets (9-6, 2-3 MAC) will play at Twos Athletic Club in Toledo at 1 p.m. before the Eagles and Bulls (16-4, 3-2 MAC) meet at the Miller Tennis Center in Buffalo for a 12 p.m. contest.
FIRST SERVES
» EMU enters the weekend with a 9-9 overall record and a 2-3 mark in the Mid-American Conference.
» The Eagles played to a 4-3 score in both matches over the weekend, defeating Western Michigan (March 28) and falling to Miami (March 30). EMU has played four consecutive matches to a one-point decision and seven total this year.
» Eastern is 7-2 at home this year and 18-2 overall in the last two seasons under Ryan Kucera. The Eagles won 13 consecutive home matches under Kucera before falling earlier this year to Oakland.
» The 4-3 win over Western Michigan (March 28) marked the 175th MAC win in program history. EMU is now 175-152 all-time in MAC matches (does not include MAC Tournament events).
» The Eagles are 10-of-18 in claiming the doubles point this season. EMU claimed 13-of-23 last year, one season removed from earning the point just four times. All told, the Eagles have won 56.1 percent (23-of-41) doubles points under Ryan Kucera.
» 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.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
Following the home matches with Western Michigan and Miami, the Eagles have played four consecutive matches that have ended in 4-3 scores with the Eagles holding a 2-2 record. The streak ties for the longest single-season streak of one-point scores, joining the 2022 squad that lost back-to-back matches (Cleveland State and UIC) before winning two in a row (at Chicago and at Milwaukee). Additionally, the four-match streaks are tied for the second-longest overall streak after EMU closed the 2022 season with three consecutive 4-3 scores (home win over Northern Illinois, home loss to Western Michigan, and road loss at Ball State) before opening the 2023 season with back-to-back losses (at Cleveland State and at Chicago State). Overall, EMU is 111-99 all-time in one-point matches and 44-46 in MAC matches.
SMALL MARGINS
During the 2025 season, the Eagles have played 18 matches with seven (38.9 percent) ending in a one-point decision. This year's team is one of nine in program history to play seven or more one-point matches and ranks tied for sixth in most played in a single season. The 2022 squad leads the way with 12 matches (6-6 record) while the 2021 (5-4), 2018 (5-4), and 1990 (5-4) teams are second with nine played. The 1999 team (6-2) is fifth with eight while this year's team is tied with the 2015 (4-3), 2013 (2-5), and 2008 (7-0) squads for sixth.
IN THE STANDINGS
The qualify for the MAC Tournament in Toledo (April 24-25), a team needs to finish fourth or higher in the final MAC standings. At the halfway point of the MAC season (five matches played with five more to go), the Eagles hold a 2-3 record and are one of four teams tied for fourth place, including Toledo, Ball State, and Western Michigan. Miami (5-0), Northern Illinois (4-1), and Buffalo (3-2) are all ahead of the Eagles with Bowling Green in eighth (0-5). Over the final three weeks, the Eagles will play at Toledo (T-4th), Buffalo (3rd), and Ball State (T-4th), while playing host to Northern Illinois (2nd) and BGSU (8th).
KNOW THE FOE: TOLEDO
The Rockets hold a record of 9-6 overall and 2-3 in MAC play after dropping a pair of 4-3 road decisions last week, including matches at Northern Illinois (March 28) and Western Michigan (March 30). Toledo is 3-1 at home this year with a 7-0 win over rival Bowling Green (March 23) in its last match. After defeating both Tiffin (Jan. 24) and Cleveland State (Jan. 31) by 6-1 scores, the Rockets dropped their home MAC opener to Miami, 4-3.
IN THE SERIES: TOLEDO
The Eagles hold a 33-16 lead in the all-time series over the Rockets despite posting a 7-15 record since winning 26 consecutive meetings. When playing in Toledo, Eastern is 14-8 overall, but has lost eight consecutive matches, including a 4-2 setback, April 26, 2024, in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament at UT. Entering the 50th match played between the two schools, 44.9 percent of the previous outcomes have resulted in either a sweep (EMU is 7-2) or one-point score (8-5).
THE LAST TIME VS. THE ROCKETS
The Eagles fell to the Rockets, 4-2, in Toledo in the semifinals of the 2024 MAC Tournament. Eastern, the No. 4 seed in the tournament and making their first MAC Tournament appearance since 2018, took an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point as Daniella Shved and Prerna Vichare won at No. 1 before Sabina Brichackova and Kseniia Saenko took the win at No. 3, 7-6(3). In singles, the Rockets would take a 2-1 lead after wins at No. 2 and No. 3 before Saenko won at No. 4, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3, but UT would add wins at No. 1 and No. 6 to claim the victory and advance.
KNOW THE FOE: BUFFALO
The Bulls are 16-4 overall and 3-2 in MAC play after sweeping a pair of league matches over the weekend, including a 4-3 win at Ball State (March 28) and a 5-2 home defeat of Bowling Green (March 30). Additionally, Buffalo is 12-1 at home with its lone blemish coming March 21 in a 4-3 setback to Toledo.
IN THE SERIES: BUFFALO
Eastern trails in the series with Buffalo, 12-14, with the Eagles' 4-3 home win, April 7, 2024, snapping an eight-match losing streak to the Bulls. The Eagles are 7-6 when playing on the road against the Bulls but have lost four in a row. The last time EMU defeated UB overall also came on the road with the Eagles taking a 4-3 decision, March 21, 2014. Overall, the teams have played 26 times with 53.8 percent of the matches ending in either a sweep (5-2) and/or a one-point decision (5-2).
THE LAST TIME VS. THE BULLS
Eastern claimed a 4-3 win over Buffalo, April 7, 2024, in Ypsilanti. The Eagles took an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point as Daniella Shved and Prerna Vichare captured the point with a 6-3 win at No. 1 after Linda Eloundou and Andrea Quiroz won, 6-2, at No. 2. In singles play, UB tied the score twice with wins at No. 3 (1-1) and No. 5 (2-2) before Quiroz won her No. 2 bout and Shved was the winner at No. 1 for a 4-2 lead. UB won the final match at No. 6 for the 4-3 final.
QUICK RECAP: WEEKEND SPLIT
Eastern split a home weekend with a pair of 4-3 scores as the Eagles defeated Western Michigan (March 28) before falling to Miami (March 30). Against the Broncos, the Eagles won the doubles point and then took the first three singles matches to clinch the team win before the Broncos won the final three bouts for a 4-3 score. Against the RedHawks, MU took the doubles point before taking a 3-2 lead. Daniella Shved won at No. 2 to tie the match before Miami won a marathon three-set match at No. 3 for the win.
QUITE THE PAIR
Sabina Brichackova and Prerna Vichare have been quite the team over the past three and one-half seasons as the duo has now played 71 career doubles matches together for the Eagles. The duo holds a record of 40-23, including 9-4 this season, with eight more matches marked as abandoned. The tandem got the season started well this past fall as they were the runners-up at the inaugural MAC Fall Individual Championships.
MAKING THE CLIMB
Sabina Brichackova has placed her name throughout the EMU record book as she has tallied 113 combined victories with 55 wins in singles play and 58 in doubles. For combined wins, Brichackova needs just nine more to reach a tie for 17th place that includes Caryn Stube (1989-92) and Mariya Toncheva (2010-14) with 121 wins. In doubles play, her 58 wins currently rank 19th all-time in program history with the 60 wins by Naomi Mokelke (1989-92) next on the list while her 55 singles wins have her two away from tying Victoria Domina (2003-05) for 20th at 57.
UP THE LADDER
Prerna Vichare is trying to join her doubles partner on the career wins ledger as her 56 victories place her in the all-time top 20. She is currently tied for 20th with both Miriam Westerink (2008-12) and Avi Gogvadze (2014-18).
IN A CLINCH
Viki Hazmukova has been the closer for the Eagles this season as she has won the clinching point for the team twice in three wins with both coming at the No. 2 singles position. Additionally, of the 10 doubles points won, Hazmukova has been part of four winning teams, pairing with Marta Komar twice and once each with Sabina Brichackova and Iva Daneva.
POINTING IT OUT
In the 15 matches the Eagles played during the 2022-23 season, the team captured the doubles point just four times (26.7 percent). Since taking over the program ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Eagles have shown great growth in doubles play as the team has captured the doubles point in 23-of-41 matches under Ryan Kucera, a 56.1 percent win rate. After the 2023-24 team won 13-of-23 points (.565), this year's team has captured 10-of-18 (.556) through the dual at home with visiting Miami.
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.
ON THE HORIZON
The final home weekend of the season awaits the Eagles as they are set to play host to Northern Illinois University, April 11, and Bowling Green State University, April 13, with both matches scheduled for 1 p.m. starts at the Chippewa Club.
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
» EMU enters the weekend with a 9-9 overall record and a 2-3 mark in the Mid-American Conference.
» The Eagles played to a 4-3 score in both matches over the weekend, defeating Western Michigan (March 28) and falling to Miami (March 30). EMU has played four consecutive matches to a one-point decision and seven total this year.
» Eastern is 7-2 at home this year and 18-2 overall in the last two seasons under Ryan Kucera. The Eagles won 13 consecutive home matches under Kucera before falling earlier this year to Oakland.
» The 4-3 win over Western Michigan (March 28) marked the 175th MAC win in program history. EMU is now 175-152 all-time in MAC matches (does not include MAC Tournament events).
» The Eagles are 10-of-18 in claiming the doubles point this season. EMU claimed 13-of-23 last year, one season removed from earning the point just four times. All told, the Eagles have won 56.1 percent (23-of-41) doubles points under Ryan Kucera.
» 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.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
Following the home matches with Western Michigan and Miami, the Eagles have played four consecutive matches that have ended in 4-3 scores with the Eagles holding a 2-2 record. The streak ties for the longest single-season streak of one-point scores, joining the 2022 squad that lost back-to-back matches (Cleveland State and UIC) before winning two in a row (at Chicago and at Milwaukee). Additionally, the four-match streaks are tied for the second-longest overall streak after EMU closed the 2022 season with three consecutive 4-3 scores (home win over Northern Illinois, home loss to Western Michigan, and road loss at Ball State) before opening the 2023 season with back-to-back losses (at Cleveland State and at Chicago State). Overall, EMU is 111-99 all-time in one-point matches and 44-46 in MAC matches.
SMALL MARGINS
During the 2025 season, the Eagles have played 18 matches with seven (38.9 percent) ending in a one-point decision. This year's team is one of nine in program history to play seven or more one-point matches and ranks tied for sixth in most played in a single season. The 2022 squad leads the way with 12 matches (6-6 record) while the 2021 (5-4), 2018 (5-4), and 1990 (5-4) teams are second with nine played. The 1999 team (6-2) is fifth with eight while this year's team is tied with the 2015 (4-3), 2013 (2-5), and 2008 (7-0) squads for sixth.
IN THE STANDINGS
The qualify for the MAC Tournament in Toledo (April 24-25), a team needs to finish fourth or higher in the final MAC standings. At the halfway point of the MAC season (five matches played with five more to go), the Eagles hold a 2-3 record and are one of four teams tied for fourth place, including Toledo, Ball State, and Western Michigan. Miami (5-0), Northern Illinois (4-1), and Buffalo (3-2) are all ahead of the Eagles with Bowling Green in eighth (0-5). Over the final three weeks, the Eagles will play at Toledo (T-4th), Buffalo (3rd), and Ball State (T-4th), while playing host to Northern Illinois (2nd) and BGSU (8th).
KNOW THE FOE: TOLEDO
The Rockets hold a record of 9-6 overall and 2-3 in MAC play after dropping a pair of 4-3 road decisions last week, including matches at Northern Illinois (March 28) and Western Michigan (March 30). Toledo is 3-1 at home this year with a 7-0 win over rival Bowling Green (March 23) in its last match. After defeating both Tiffin (Jan. 24) and Cleveland State (Jan. 31) by 6-1 scores, the Rockets dropped their home MAC opener to Miami, 4-3.
IN THE SERIES: TOLEDO
The Eagles hold a 33-16 lead in the all-time series over the Rockets despite posting a 7-15 record since winning 26 consecutive meetings. When playing in Toledo, Eastern is 14-8 overall, but has lost eight consecutive matches, including a 4-2 setback, April 26, 2024, in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament at UT. Entering the 50th match played between the two schools, 44.9 percent of the previous outcomes have resulted in either a sweep (EMU is 7-2) or one-point score (8-5).
THE LAST TIME VS. THE ROCKETS
The Eagles fell to the Rockets, 4-2, in Toledo in the semifinals of the 2024 MAC Tournament. Eastern, the No. 4 seed in the tournament and making their first MAC Tournament appearance since 2018, took an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point as Daniella Shved and Prerna Vichare won at No. 1 before Sabina Brichackova and Kseniia Saenko took the win at No. 3, 7-6(3). In singles, the Rockets would take a 2-1 lead after wins at No. 2 and No. 3 before Saenko won at No. 4, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3, but UT would add wins at No. 1 and No. 6 to claim the victory and advance.
KNOW THE FOE: BUFFALO
The Bulls are 16-4 overall and 3-2 in MAC play after sweeping a pair of league matches over the weekend, including a 4-3 win at Ball State (March 28) and a 5-2 home defeat of Bowling Green (March 30). Additionally, Buffalo is 12-1 at home with its lone blemish coming March 21 in a 4-3 setback to Toledo.
IN THE SERIES: BUFFALO
Eastern trails in the series with Buffalo, 12-14, with the Eagles' 4-3 home win, April 7, 2024, snapping an eight-match losing streak to the Bulls. The Eagles are 7-6 when playing on the road against the Bulls but have lost four in a row. The last time EMU defeated UB overall also came on the road with the Eagles taking a 4-3 decision, March 21, 2014. Overall, the teams have played 26 times with 53.8 percent of the matches ending in either a sweep (5-2) and/or a one-point decision (5-2).
THE LAST TIME VS. THE BULLS
Eastern claimed a 4-3 win over Buffalo, April 7, 2024, in Ypsilanti. The Eagles took an early 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point as Daniella Shved and Prerna Vichare captured the point with a 6-3 win at No. 1 after Linda Eloundou and Andrea Quiroz won, 6-2, at No. 2. In singles play, UB tied the score twice with wins at No. 3 (1-1) and No. 5 (2-2) before Quiroz won her No. 2 bout and Shved was the winner at No. 1 for a 4-2 lead. UB won the final match at No. 6 for the 4-3 final.
QUICK RECAP: WEEKEND SPLIT
Eastern split a home weekend with a pair of 4-3 scores as the Eagles defeated Western Michigan (March 28) before falling to Miami (March 30). Against the Broncos, the Eagles won the doubles point and then took the first three singles matches to clinch the team win before the Broncos won the final three bouts for a 4-3 score. Against the RedHawks, MU took the doubles point before taking a 3-2 lead. Daniella Shved won at No. 2 to tie the match before Miami won a marathon three-set match at No. 3 for the win.
QUITE THE PAIR
Sabina Brichackova and Prerna Vichare have been quite the team over the past three and one-half seasons as the duo has now played 71 career doubles matches together for the Eagles. The duo holds a record of 40-23, including 9-4 this season, with eight more matches marked as abandoned. The tandem got the season started well this past fall as they were the runners-up at the inaugural MAC Fall Individual Championships.
MAKING THE CLIMB
Sabina Brichackova has placed her name throughout the EMU record book as she has tallied 113 combined victories with 55 wins in singles play and 58 in doubles. For combined wins, Brichackova needs just nine more to reach a tie for 17th place that includes Caryn Stube (1989-92) and Mariya Toncheva (2010-14) with 121 wins. In doubles play, her 58 wins currently rank 19th all-time in program history with the 60 wins by Naomi Mokelke (1989-92) next on the list while her 55 singles wins have her two away from tying Victoria Domina (2003-05) for 20th at 57.
UP THE LADDER
Prerna Vichare is trying to join her doubles partner on the career wins ledger as her 56 victories place her in the all-time top 20. She is currently tied for 20th with both Miriam Westerink (2008-12) and Avi Gogvadze (2014-18).
IN A CLINCH
Viki Hazmukova has been the closer for the Eagles this season as she has won the clinching point for the team twice in three wins with both coming at the No. 2 singles position. Additionally, of the 10 doubles points won, Hazmukova has been part of four winning teams, pairing with Marta Komar twice and once each with Sabina Brichackova and Iva Daneva.
POINTING IT OUT
In the 15 matches the Eagles played during the 2022-23 season, the team captured the doubles point just four times (26.7 percent). Since taking over the program ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Eagles have shown great growth in doubles play as the team has captured the doubles point in 23-of-41 matches under Ryan Kucera, a 56.1 percent win rate. After the 2023-24 team won 13-of-23 points (.565), this year's team has captured 10-of-18 (.556) through the dual at home with visiting Miami.
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.
ON THE HORIZON
The final home weekend of the season awaits the Eagles as they are set to play host to Northern Illinois University, April 11, and Bowling Green State University, April 13, with both matches scheduled for 1 p.m. starts at the Chippewa Club.
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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