Eastern Michigan Athletics
Monday, March 2
DeLand, FL
10 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Stetson
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Tennis Set for Two Matches in Florida
2/27/2026 1:54:00 PM | Tennis
Eagles heading to Stetson and North Florida for Spring Break trip
| Spring Dual #13 | at STETSON | |
| Date | Monday, March 2 | 10 a.m. |
| Venue | Mandy Stoll Tennis Center | DeLand, Fla. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes | Media Guide |
| Live | Live Results |
| @EMUEaglesTennis | @EMUAthletics | |
| Spring Dual #14 | at #72 NORTH FLORIDA | |
| Date | Wednesday, March 4 | 10 a.m. |
| Venue | UNF Tennis Complex | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes | Media Guide |
| Live | Live Results |
| EMU_Tennis | EMUAthletics | |
DeLAND, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University tennis team is flying south for Spring Break as the Eagles will play a pair of matches in the Sunshine State when they face Stetson University and the University of North Florida in their final two non-conference matches of 2026. Eastern (9-3) opens its trip March 2 with a 10 a.m. match with the Hatters (3-4) in DeLand, Fla., before capping the trip in Jacksonville, Fla., March 4, for a 10 a.m. contest with the No. 72 Ospreys (10-0).
FIRST SERVES
» The Eagles are 9-3 on the year and are coming off a gritty, come-from-behind win over Bradley, 4-3, at home, Feb. 20. Eastern trailed, 3-1, before winning the final three singles matches in three sets.
» Eastern's nine wins through 12 matches is tied for the fourth-highest total in program history and the most since the 2017-18 squad also started 9-3. The record is 11 wins set by the 2002-03 team while the 1982-83 and 1983-84 teams each won 10.
» Eastern is in its 49th varsity season in 2026 and, following its weekend split, is now 554-470 all-time. The 4-2 win at St. Francis (Pa.), Jan. 24, stands as the 550th victory in program history.
» Under Ryan Kucera, the Eagles have posted a 24-2 record at home, including an 11-0 mark in his debut season (2024), a 10-2 mark last year, and a 3-0 start in 2026. In the six seasons played ahead of Kucera's arrival, the Eagles were 21-30 at home.
» Eastern has been strong in doubles play under Ryan Kucera as they have won 60.3 percent (35-of-58) of the doubles points since the start of the 2024 season. The Eagles were 13-of-23 in 2024 before improving to 14-of-22 last year and have won 8-of-12 this year.
» In the three seasons Ryan Kucera has led the program, Eastern holds a record of 28-7 when it wins the doubles point and has won 10 consecutive matches when securing the point. Conversely, EMU is 5-18 when it does not win the point, including its 4-3 win at home over Bradley, Feb. 20.
» Matilde Parreira was the deciding factor in the win over Bradley (Feb. 20) as she lost the first set at No. 5 before rebounding to take the second. In the third, she was down, 4-3, before winning the final three games to secure a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win and clinch the team victory.
» The 2025-26 Eastern Michigan roster features eight players from eight countries and four continents. Included on the roster are four returning Eagles in Iva Daneva, Lara Diaz Zayas, Regina Mendez Carreño, and Kseniia Saenko, and four newcomers in Pehal Kharadkar, Matilde Parreira, Sabrina Tolstova, and Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya.
» With the four freshmen included, the EMU roster boasts players from eight countries, including Argentina, India, Indonesia, Mexico, North Macedonia, Portugal, Russia, and Ukraine. All told, the Eagles are represented on four continents, including North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
» Ryan Kucera returns for his third season as the head coach and will look to guide the team to the MAC Tournament for the second time. He has guided the team to back-to-back 12-win seasons for the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons when Tim Gray led the team to consecutive 16-win campaigns.
» Ryan Kucera ranks sixth all-time in wins by a head coach in program history with 33. The wins at DePaul (No. 31) and Butler (No. 32) pushed him ahead of Allison Tookes, who had 31 from 1991-95.
LAST TIME OUT: COMEBACK WIN
Eastern came from behind to secure a 4-3 win at home over Bradley, Feb. 20, as the Eagles, who trailed, 3-1, secured three consecutive three-set singles wins to close out the victory. After dropping the doubles point, the Eagles tied the score at 1-1 as Pehal Kharadkar scored a quick win at No. 4 singles. The visiting Braves would win the next two matches with wins at No. 3 and No. 2, meaning EMU needed to win the remaining matches for the team win and that is what it did. Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya won at No. 1 (6-1, 4-6, 6-2) before Regina Mendez Carreño grabbed her win at No. 6 (6-4, 0-6, 6-1) to tie the match. It all came down to No. 5 where Matilde Parreira came back from one set down to win, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, and clinch the win.
HIT THE GRITTY (WIN)
Matilde Parreira's win over Bradley's Compassion Tsai at No. 5 singles had it all, Feb. 20, as the two battled for over two hours in a three-set marathon. After falling in the first set, Parreira regrouped and took the second as the team score had been tied at 3-3 following Regina Mendez Carreño's win at No. 6. Following a break, Parreira took leads of 2-1 and 3-2 in the deciding set before Tsai grabbed two consecutive points for a 4-3 lead. Parreira regrouped and won the final three points as she held serve twice and broke Tsai once for the win. Parreira improved to 2-2 in three-set matches this year and has won two such matches in a row, both of which saw her bounce back from a first-set loss.
FEELING COMPLETE
When doubles play began against Bradley (Feb. 20), a familiar face was back on the court as Kseniia Saenko saw her first action for the Eagles in 2025-26. Saenko paired with Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya to win, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles in her return. Saenko's return means all eight players on the roster have played in doubles this season.
STRAIGHT TO THE (DOUBLES) POINT
Eastern has captured the doubles point in 8-of-21 matches (67.7 percent) played this season and has secured the point in 60.3 percent of matches played under Ryan Kucera (35-of-58) since the start of the 2024 season. Ahead of his arrival, the Eagles captured the point just four times (26.7 percent) in the 2022-23 season before winning the point 56.5 percent in 2024 (13-of-23) and 60.9 percent last year (14-of-23).
DOUBLES TALES
Since Ryan Kucera took over ahead of the 2023-24 season, doubles have been a key component to the team's success. In the 58 matches played, the Eagles have won the doubles point 35 times (60.3 percent) which has translated into a 28-7 record in the team match and wins in 10 consecutive team matches when winning the doubles point. Conversely, the Eagles are 5-18 when they don't win the doubles point, including the 4-3 win over Bradley at home, Feb. 20.
WHEN TWO IS ONE
Through the match at Butler (Feb. 14), the Eagles have captured the doubles point 8-of-12 times this year with the team of Matilde Parreira and Sabrina Tolstova adding the point-clinching win five times. The freshmen duo has clinched the point four times from the No. 2 position, including both matches over the weekend, while adding one at the No. 1 spot.
BRINGING IN THE CLOSER?
Following her clinching point at No. 5 singles against Bradley (Feb. 20), Matilde Parreira has been a closer of late for the Eagles as she clinched the deciding point in back-to-back matches, including the 5-2 victory at Butler (Feb. 14). Parreira and Pehal Kharadkar are tied for the team lead with three match-clinching points this year, but Parreira has a big lead when including doubles clinches as she holds eight combined wins in 2026 with doubles partner Sabrina Tolstova next in line with six.
ROOKIES ROCKING
The four freshmen added to the roster this year have made immediate impacts for the Eagles as they lead the team in singles wins and combined wins through the match played against Bradley (Feb. 20). Matilde Parreira leads the team in singles wins (13) and combined wins (24) while sitting tied for the lead in doubles victories with playing partner Sabrina Tolstova (11). Tolstova has also reached 20 combined wins in her rookie season as she has added nine singles wins. Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya and Pehel Kharadkar each have secured 11 singles wins as well with Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya closing in on 20 combined wins as she has tallied 19 this year following her win at No. 1 doubles against the Braves. All told, the freshmen have tallied 44-of-58 wins in singles play this year.,
STRONG START
With its 4-0 loss at Michigan State, Feb. 1, Eastern saw its perfect start to the season come to an end. The 6-0 start tied for the best start in program history as the 2002-03 squad also opened its season at 6-0. Despite the loss in their seventh match, the 2002-03 team would rebound with an eight-match winning streak to open the year 14-1 on its way to reaching the finals of the MAC Tournament.
Standing 9-3 through 12 matches this year, the 2025-26 squad ranks among the best in program history as its victories are tied for the fourth-best start with six other teams with the most recent being the 2017-18 squad. The record was set by the 2002-03 teams with 11 wins through 12 matches while the 1982-83 and 1983-84 squads both won 10 matches in their opening 12.
ROAD WINS
The loss at Michigan State (Feb. 1) also was the first of the year on the road for EMU, which halted their four-match winning streak away from home. The 4-0 start tied for the third-best road showing in program history with only the 2002-03 and 1983-84 teams starting better as both opened at 6-0. Eastern has rebounded since then with two wins for a 6-2 road record in 2025-26.
SPRING BREAKING
It's time for Spring Break in Ypsilanti with the Eagles setting off on a trip to get outdoors for the first time this season and the 35th time in program history. Eastern, who will head to Florida for multiple matches for the 23rd time in program history, first took a Spring Break trip during the 1980-81 season with four matches in Florida that saw Eastern fall at Florida International and Palm Beach State before wrapping the trip with wins at Broward College and Florida Southwest State. That trip started a run of 11 consecutive years in which Eastern traveled to Florida for matches over Spring Break. The last time Eastern visited the Sunshine State came during the 2021-22 season with EMU splitting four matches, all played at UCF in Orlando. The two doubleheaders saw EMU fall to host UCF, 6-1, before defeating Charleston, 6-1, on March 3, 2022, and then falling to Oakland, 5-2, before defeating St. Petersburg, 4-3, on March 5.
SEEKING SUNSHINE
Florida has not been the only location for Spring Break trips for the team as Eastern has played two or more matches on trips to California eight times, twice in Texas, and once each in Hawai'i and South Carolina. The most recent trip came last year with two matches in California that included a 5-2 loss at UC San Diego, Feb. 26, and a 4-3 setback at UC Riverside, Feb. 27.
FAMILIAR SPRING BREAK FOES
Of the 23 previous trips to Florida, eight have involved matches with either Stetson or North Florida with the most recent coming during the 2006-07 season. That year, Eastern opened with a 5-2 win at Stetson (Feb. 27, 2007) before falling at Bethune-Cookman, 5-2 (Feb. 28), and at UCF, 5-2 (March 1).
KNOW THE FOE: STETSON
The Hatters hold a 3-4 record and a 2-1 mark when playing on their home courts, including a pair of 7-0 sweeps in the last two home appearances. Stetson has dropped three consecutive matches overall, including a 6-1 loss at No. 39 UCF, Feb. 22.
IN THE SERIES: STETSON
Eastern leads the all-time series, 6-2, with Stetson with all eight previous matches being played in DeLand, Fla. After losing by one (5-4) in their first meeting, March 3, 1983, the Eagles won six consecutive matches with their most recent win coming in a 5-2 decision, Feb. 27, 2007. The Hatters won the last meeting, 6-1, Feb. 25, 2014.
THE LAST TIME VS. HATTERS
Eastern and Stetson last met Feb. 25, 2014, with the host Hatters scoring a 6-1 win that snapped a six-match EMU winning streak in the series. Eastern won at No. 2 doubles with Diana Davitaia and Maria Paula Ribero scoring an 8-4 win, but the hosts captured wins at No. 1 and No. 3 for the doubles point. In singles, Mariya Toncheva secured the lone point in the match for the Eagles as she took a three-set win at No. 4, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0(8).
KNOW THE FOE: NORTH FLORIDA
The Ospreys are a perfect 10-0 (6-0 at home) ahead of their trip to the Rocky Mountain State this weekend where they play at Air Force (Feb. 27) and at Colorado State (Feb. 28). Ranked No. 72 in the latest ITA rankings, North Florida has won six consecutive matches by sweeps and have not surrendered a point since its 4-3 win at South Florida, Feb. 7.
IN THE SERIES: NORTH FLORIDA
Eastern and North Florida are meeting for the second time after the Ospreys won the first meeting, 5-2, in Jacksonville, March 2, 2006.
THE LAST TIME VS. OSPREYS
Eastern fell, 5-2, on March 2, 2006, in its only previous meeting with North Florida. After dropping all three doubles matches, the Eagles secured their two points with wins at No. 2 and No. 6 singles. Aditi Krishnan won a three-set battle at No. 3, 5-7, 7-4, 6-2, after Laura Fernandez won in straight sets at No. 6, 6-4, 7-6(2).
HOME PROTECTION
Since taking over the program ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Eagles hold a 24-2 record at home under Ryan Kucera, a mark that included the Eagles going a perfect 11-0 at home in 2024, 10-2 last year, and 3-0 in 2026 following their 4-3 defeat of Bradley (Feb. 20). In the previous six seasons played ahead of Kucera's arrival, the Eagles were 21-30, including a 3-4 mark in the 2022-23 season. The win totals also rank as the highest (11) and second-highest (10) in single-season history for the program.
ON THE HORIZON
With its non-conference schedule complete, Eastern will turn its focus to its Mid-American Conference slate that will open the weekend of March 13-15 with two matches. The Eagles will open MAC play at home, March 13, with a 1 p.m. contest against Northern Illinois University, marking the final regular season meeting before NIU departs for the Horizon League next season. Two days later, the Eagles will venture to Amherst, Mass., for an 11 a.m. contest, March 15, against MAC newcomer University of Massachusetts.
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
» The Eagles are 9-3 on the year and are coming off a gritty, come-from-behind win over Bradley, 4-3, at home, Feb. 20. Eastern trailed, 3-1, before winning the final three singles matches in three sets.
» Eastern's nine wins through 12 matches is tied for the fourth-highest total in program history and the most since the 2017-18 squad also started 9-3. The record is 11 wins set by the 2002-03 team while the 1982-83 and 1983-84 teams each won 10.
» Eastern is in its 49th varsity season in 2026 and, following its weekend split, is now 554-470 all-time. The 4-2 win at St. Francis (Pa.), Jan. 24, stands as the 550th victory in program history.
» Under Ryan Kucera, the Eagles have posted a 24-2 record at home, including an 11-0 mark in his debut season (2024), a 10-2 mark last year, and a 3-0 start in 2026. In the six seasons played ahead of Kucera's arrival, the Eagles were 21-30 at home.
» Eastern has been strong in doubles play under Ryan Kucera as they have won 60.3 percent (35-of-58) of the doubles points since the start of the 2024 season. The Eagles were 13-of-23 in 2024 before improving to 14-of-22 last year and have won 8-of-12 this year.
» In the three seasons Ryan Kucera has led the program, Eastern holds a record of 28-7 when it wins the doubles point and has won 10 consecutive matches when securing the point. Conversely, EMU is 5-18 when it does not win the point, including its 4-3 win at home over Bradley, Feb. 20.
» Matilde Parreira was the deciding factor in the win over Bradley (Feb. 20) as she lost the first set at No. 5 before rebounding to take the second. In the third, she was down, 4-3, before winning the final three games to secure a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win and clinch the team victory.
» The 2025-26 Eastern Michigan roster features eight players from eight countries and four continents. Included on the roster are four returning Eagles in Iva Daneva, Lara Diaz Zayas, Regina Mendez Carreño, and Kseniia Saenko, and four newcomers in Pehal Kharadkar, Matilde Parreira, Sabrina Tolstova, and Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya.
» With the four freshmen included, the EMU roster boasts players from eight countries, including Argentina, India, Indonesia, Mexico, North Macedonia, Portugal, Russia, and Ukraine. All told, the Eagles are represented on four continents, including North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
» Ryan Kucera returns for his third season as the head coach and will look to guide the team to the MAC Tournament for the second time. He has guided the team to back-to-back 12-win seasons for the first time since the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons when Tim Gray led the team to consecutive 16-win campaigns.
» Ryan Kucera ranks sixth all-time in wins by a head coach in program history with 33. The wins at DePaul (No. 31) and Butler (No. 32) pushed him ahead of Allison Tookes, who had 31 from 1991-95.
LAST TIME OUT: COMEBACK WIN
Eastern came from behind to secure a 4-3 win at home over Bradley, Feb. 20, as the Eagles, who trailed, 3-1, secured three consecutive three-set singles wins to close out the victory. After dropping the doubles point, the Eagles tied the score at 1-1 as Pehal Kharadkar scored a quick win at No. 4 singles. The visiting Braves would win the next two matches with wins at No. 3 and No. 2, meaning EMU needed to win the remaining matches for the team win and that is what it did. Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya won at No. 1 (6-1, 4-6, 6-2) before Regina Mendez Carreño grabbed her win at No. 6 (6-4, 0-6, 6-1) to tie the match. It all came down to No. 5 where Matilde Parreira came back from one set down to win, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, and clinch the win.
HIT THE GRITTY (WIN)
Matilde Parreira's win over Bradley's Compassion Tsai at No. 5 singles had it all, Feb. 20, as the two battled for over two hours in a three-set marathon. After falling in the first set, Parreira regrouped and took the second as the team score had been tied at 3-3 following Regina Mendez Carreño's win at No. 6. Following a break, Parreira took leads of 2-1 and 3-2 in the deciding set before Tsai grabbed two consecutive points for a 4-3 lead. Parreira regrouped and won the final three points as she held serve twice and broke Tsai once for the win. Parreira improved to 2-2 in three-set matches this year and has won two such matches in a row, both of which saw her bounce back from a first-set loss.
FEELING COMPLETE
When doubles play began against Bradley (Feb. 20), a familiar face was back on the court as Kseniia Saenko saw her first action for the Eagles in 2025-26. Saenko paired with Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya to win, 6-1, at No. 1 doubles in her return. Saenko's return means all eight players on the roster have played in doubles this season.
STRAIGHT TO THE (DOUBLES) POINT
Eastern has captured the doubles point in 8-of-21 matches (67.7 percent) played this season and has secured the point in 60.3 percent of matches played under Ryan Kucera (35-of-58) since the start of the 2024 season. Ahead of his arrival, the Eagles captured the point just four times (26.7 percent) in the 2022-23 season before winning the point 56.5 percent in 2024 (13-of-23) and 60.9 percent last year (14-of-23).
DOUBLES TALES
Since Ryan Kucera took over ahead of the 2023-24 season, doubles have been a key component to the team's success. In the 58 matches played, the Eagles have won the doubles point 35 times (60.3 percent) which has translated into a 28-7 record in the team match and wins in 10 consecutive team matches when winning the doubles point. Conversely, the Eagles are 5-18 when they don't win the doubles point, including the 4-3 win over Bradley at home, Feb. 20.
WHEN TWO IS ONE
Through the match at Butler (Feb. 14), the Eagles have captured the doubles point 8-of-12 times this year with the team of Matilde Parreira and Sabrina Tolstova adding the point-clinching win five times. The freshmen duo has clinched the point four times from the No. 2 position, including both matches over the weekend, while adding one at the No. 1 spot.
BRINGING IN THE CLOSER?
Following her clinching point at No. 5 singles against Bradley (Feb. 20), Matilde Parreira has been a closer of late for the Eagles as she clinched the deciding point in back-to-back matches, including the 5-2 victory at Butler (Feb. 14). Parreira and Pehal Kharadkar are tied for the team lead with three match-clinching points this year, but Parreira has a big lead when including doubles clinches as she holds eight combined wins in 2026 with doubles partner Sabrina Tolstova next in line with six.
ROOKIES ROCKING
The four freshmen added to the roster this year have made immediate impacts for the Eagles as they lead the team in singles wins and combined wins through the match played against Bradley (Feb. 20). Matilde Parreira leads the team in singles wins (13) and combined wins (24) while sitting tied for the lead in doubles victories with playing partner Sabrina Tolstova (11). Tolstova has also reached 20 combined wins in her rookie season as she has added nine singles wins. Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya and Pehel Kharadkar each have secured 11 singles wins as well with Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya closing in on 20 combined wins as she has tallied 19 this year following her win at No. 1 doubles against the Braves. All told, the freshmen have tallied 44-of-58 wins in singles play this year.,
STRONG START
With its 4-0 loss at Michigan State, Feb. 1, Eastern saw its perfect start to the season come to an end. The 6-0 start tied for the best start in program history as the 2002-03 squad also opened its season at 6-0. Despite the loss in their seventh match, the 2002-03 team would rebound with an eight-match winning streak to open the year 14-1 on its way to reaching the finals of the MAC Tournament.
Standing 9-3 through 12 matches this year, the 2025-26 squad ranks among the best in program history as its victories are tied for the fourth-best start with six other teams with the most recent being the 2017-18 squad. The record was set by the 2002-03 teams with 11 wins through 12 matches while the 1982-83 and 1983-84 squads both won 10 matches in their opening 12.
ROAD WINS
The loss at Michigan State (Feb. 1) also was the first of the year on the road for EMU, which halted their four-match winning streak away from home. The 4-0 start tied for the third-best road showing in program history with only the 2002-03 and 1983-84 teams starting better as both opened at 6-0. Eastern has rebounded since then with two wins for a 6-2 road record in 2025-26.
SPRING BREAKING
It's time for Spring Break in Ypsilanti with the Eagles setting off on a trip to get outdoors for the first time this season and the 35th time in program history. Eastern, who will head to Florida for multiple matches for the 23rd time in program history, first took a Spring Break trip during the 1980-81 season with four matches in Florida that saw Eastern fall at Florida International and Palm Beach State before wrapping the trip with wins at Broward College and Florida Southwest State. That trip started a run of 11 consecutive years in which Eastern traveled to Florida for matches over Spring Break. The last time Eastern visited the Sunshine State came during the 2021-22 season with EMU splitting four matches, all played at UCF in Orlando. The two doubleheaders saw EMU fall to host UCF, 6-1, before defeating Charleston, 6-1, on March 3, 2022, and then falling to Oakland, 5-2, before defeating St. Petersburg, 4-3, on March 5.
SEEKING SUNSHINE
Florida has not been the only location for Spring Break trips for the team as Eastern has played two or more matches on trips to California eight times, twice in Texas, and once each in Hawai'i and South Carolina. The most recent trip came last year with two matches in California that included a 5-2 loss at UC San Diego, Feb. 26, and a 4-3 setback at UC Riverside, Feb. 27.
FAMILIAR SPRING BREAK FOES
Of the 23 previous trips to Florida, eight have involved matches with either Stetson or North Florida with the most recent coming during the 2006-07 season. That year, Eastern opened with a 5-2 win at Stetson (Feb. 27, 2007) before falling at Bethune-Cookman, 5-2 (Feb. 28), and at UCF, 5-2 (March 1).
KNOW THE FOE: STETSON
The Hatters hold a 3-4 record and a 2-1 mark when playing on their home courts, including a pair of 7-0 sweeps in the last two home appearances. Stetson has dropped three consecutive matches overall, including a 6-1 loss at No. 39 UCF, Feb. 22.
IN THE SERIES: STETSON
Eastern leads the all-time series, 6-2, with Stetson with all eight previous matches being played in DeLand, Fla. After losing by one (5-4) in their first meeting, March 3, 1983, the Eagles won six consecutive matches with their most recent win coming in a 5-2 decision, Feb. 27, 2007. The Hatters won the last meeting, 6-1, Feb. 25, 2014.
THE LAST TIME VS. HATTERS
Eastern and Stetson last met Feb. 25, 2014, with the host Hatters scoring a 6-1 win that snapped a six-match EMU winning streak in the series. Eastern won at No. 2 doubles with Diana Davitaia and Maria Paula Ribero scoring an 8-4 win, but the hosts captured wins at No. 1 and No. 3 for the doubles point. In singles, Mariya Toncheva secured the lone point in the match for the Eagles as she took a three-set win at No. 4, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0(8).
KNOW THE FOE: NORTH FLORIDA
The Ospreys are a perfect 10-0 (6-0 at home) ahead of their trip to the Rocky Mountain State this weekend where they play at Air Force (Feb. 27) and at Colorado State (Feb. 28). Ranked No. 72 in the latest ITA rankings, North Florida has won six consecutive matches by sweeps and have not surrendered a point since its 4-3 win at South Florida, Feb. 7.
IN THE SERIES: NORTH FLORIDA
Eastern and North Florida are meeting for the second time after the Ospreys won the first meeting, 5-2, in Jacksonville, March 2, 2006.
THE LAST TIME VS. OSPREYS
Eastern fell, 5-2, on March 2, 2006, in its only previous meeting with North Florida. After dropping all three doubles matches, the Eagles secured their two points with wins at No. 2 and No. 6 singles. Aditi Krishnan won a three-set battle at No. 3, 5-7, 7-4, 6-2, after Laura Fernandez won in straight sets at No. 6, 6-4, 7-6(2).
HOME PROTECTION
Since taking over the program ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Eagles hold a 24-2 record at home under Ryan Kucera, a mark that included the Eagles going a perfect 11-0 at home in 2024, 10-2 last year, and 3-0 in 2026 following their 4-3 defeat of Bradley (Feb. 20). In the previous six seasons played ahead of Kucera's arrival, the Eagles were 21-30, including a 3-4 mark in the 2022-23 season. The win totals also rank as the highest (11) and second-highest (10) in single-season history for the program.
ON THE HORIZON
With its non-conference schedule complete, Eastern will turn its focus to its Mid-American Conference slate that will open the weekend of March 13-15 with two matches. The Eagles will open MAC play at home, March 13, with a 1 p.m. contest against Northern Illinois University, marking the final regular season meeting before NIU departs for the Horizon League next season. Two days later, the Eagles will venture to Amherst, Mass., for an 11 a.m. contest, March 15, against MAC newcomer University of Massachusetts.
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.
Players Mentioned
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