Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, February 6
Richmond, Ky.
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
at
Eastern Kentucky
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Doubleheader Awaits Tennis in Kentucky Friday
2/4/2026 5:29:00 PM | Tennis
Eagles will square off with host Eastern Kentucky (11 a.m.) and Chattanooga (4 p.m.)
| Spring Dual #8 | at EASTERN KENTUCKY | |
| Date | Friday, Feb. 6 | 11 a.m. |
| Venue | Greg Adams Tennis Center | Richmond, Ky. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes | Media Guide |
| Live | Live Results |
| @EMUEaglesTennis | @EMUAthletics | |
| Spring Dual #8 | at CHATTANOOGA (at EKU) | |
| Date | Sunday, Feb. 1 | 2 p.m. |
| Venue | Greg Adams Tennis Center | Richmond, Ky. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes | Media Guide |
| Live | n/a |
| EMU_Tennis | EMUAthletics | |
RICHMOND, Ky. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University tennis team will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season as the Eagles travel to the Greg Adams Tennis Center in Richmond, Ky., for a same-day doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Friday, Feb. 6. The Eagles (6-1) and Colonels (1-5) will meet on the courts at 11 a.m. before the Eagles and Mocs (2-1) face one another in a neutral-site contest at 4 p.m.
FIRST SERVES
» Eastern split a pair of matches with intrastate foes over the weekend as the Eagles scored a 4-3 home win over Oakland (Jan. 31) before falling, 4-0, on the road at Michigan State (Feb. 1).
» The Eagles are 3-1 this year against teams from Michigan and stand 106-115 all-time against fellow Mitten State schools. Eastern has two more 'Mitten Matches' to play in 2026, including home duals with Wayne State (Feb. 22) and Western Michigan (April 19) for Senior Day.
» Eastern is in its 49th varsity season in 2026 and, following its weekend split, is now 551-468 all-time. The 4-2 win at St. Francis (Pa.), Jan. 24, stands as the 550th victory in program history.
» Prior to the loss at Michigan State, EMU was off to a 6-0 start, which tied with the 2003 and 1984 teams for the best start in program history. The Eagles also were 4-0 on the road before falling to the Spartans, a mark that tied for the third-best road winning streak in program history.
» Under Ryan Kucera, the Eagles have posted a 23-2 record at home, including an 11-0 mark in his debut season (2024), a 10-2 mark last year, and a 2-0 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 62.3 percent (33-of-53) 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 6-of-7 this year.
» In the three seasons Ryan Kucera has led the program, Eastern holds a record of 26-7 when it wins the doubles point and has won eight consecutive matches when securing the point. Conversely, EMU is 4-16 when it does not win the point.
» The match with Chattanooga will mark the team's first neutral site competition since March 5, 2022, when Eastern split matches with Oakland (L, 5-2) and St. Petersburg (W, 4-3) in Orlando, Fla. The Eagles are 103-55 all-time in neutral site matches and have faced 82 different teams in those duals.
» 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.
LAST TIME OUT: ROAD SPLIT
Eastern splits its two matches last week with a 4-3 home win over Oakland (Jan. 31) before falling at Michigan State (Feb. 1), 4-0. The win over the Golden Grizzlies ran the Eagles' record to 6-0 and tied for the best start in program history with the 2002-03 squad with the loss to the Spartans halting the run as well as ending a 4-0 start to the year in road matches, which ranks as the third-best start in program history.
STRAIGHT TO THE (DOUBLES) POINT
Eastern has captured the doubles point in 6-of-7 matches (85.7 percent) played this season and have secured the point in 62.3 percent of matches played under Ryan Kucera (33-of-53) 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 53 matches played, the Eagles have won the doubles point 33 times (60.0 percent) which has translated into a 26-7 record in the team match and wins in eight consecutive team matches when winning the doubles point. Conversely, the Eagles are 4-16 when they don't win the doubles point.
NEARLY DOUBLED THE DOUBLES
The Eagles have fared well in doubles play this fall as four pairs have combined to start 21 matches with a 14-3 record and four abandoned. The team of freshmen Matilde Parreira and Sabrina Tolstova are 5-1 this spring with the duo of Lara Diaz Zayas and Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya sitting at 5-2. Iva Daneva and Regina Mendez Carreño are 4-0 as well.
STRONG START
With its 4-0 loss at Michigan State, Feb. 1, Eastern saw its perfect start to the season come to an end as the Eagles now stand 6-1. 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.
ROAD WINS
The loss at Michigan State (Feb. 1) also was the first of the year on the road for the Eagles, 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.
HOME PROTECTION
Since taking over the program ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Eagles hold a 23-2 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 2-0 in 2026 following their 4-3 defeat of Oakland (Jan. 31). 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-most (10) in single-season history for the program.
DOUBLE THE FUN
Following the double dip at Ferris State (Jan. 19), Eastern has played 58 same-day doubleheaders in its history, winning both matches 28 times, splitting 27 times, and being swept just three times. Holding an all-time record of 82-34 in doubleheader matches, Eastern is now 27-22 when those matches are played on the road. All told, EMU is 38-20 in the opening match of the double dip and 44-14 in the second match. The Eagles will look to add to those numbers with their matches in Richmond, Ky., Friday.
KNOW THE FOE: EASTERN KENTUCKY
The Colonels are 1-5 overall this year and have dropped their last two matches, including a 6-1 loss at Indiana and a 7-0 setback at Louisville. EKU opened the year with two home losses, including 5-0 to East Tennessee State and 4-1 to Marshall, but did score a 5-2 road win at Dayton, Jan. 30.
IN THE SERIES: EASTERN KENTUCKY
The Easterns are meeting for the 12th time with the Eagles holding an 8-3 record despite the Colonels winning the most recent meeting, a 6-1 decision, Jan. 19, 2013, in Richmond, Ky. EMU leads the series, 4-2, when playing on EKU's home courts with the Colonels' win in 2013 snapping a four-match winning streak for the Eagles. The series, which began with an EKU home win in 1981, was played annually from 1984-89 with the Eagles posting a 5-1 record in those six meetings.
THE LAST TIME VS. THE COLONELS
Eastern Kentucky won the last meeting, 6-1, when the two teams met in Richmond, Ky., Jan. 19, 2013. The host Colonels jumped out to a 1-0 lead by securing the doubles point before extending the lead to 3-0 with wins at No. 1 and No. 4 singles. Klara Supejova captured a win at No. 2 for EMU to halt the run, but the hosts would add wins in the final three matches to close out their 6-1 victory.
KNOW THE FOE: CHATTANOOGA
The Mocs hold a 2-1 record and are coming off their first lost of the year, a 6-1 setback at Georgia Tech, Feb. 1. Chattanooga opened its season with a pair of home wins, including a 7-0 shutout of Lee and a 6-1 defeat of Georgia State.
IN THE SERIES: CHATTANOOGA
Eastern and Chattanooga are meeting for the first time. The Mocs will be the first of two schools the Eagles will face for the first time this year with the second coming March 15 when EMU travels to play MAC newcomer UMass.
NEUTRAL GROUND
The match with Chattanooga will mark the first neutral site competition for the Eagles since the 2022 season when Eastern defeated St. Petersburg, 4-3, at UCF in Orlando, Fla., March 5, 2022. Eastern is 103-55 in neutral site competitions and have played those 158 matches against 82 different opponents with Chattanooga set to become the 83rd on the list.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern returns to the road for a pair of matches next week as the Eagles are set to face DePaul University and Butler University on consecutive days. The Eagles and Blue Demons will meet Friday, Feb. 13, at 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) in Chicago, Ill., before the Eagles and Bulldogs square off at 4 p.m., Feb. 14, in Indianapolis.
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 split a pair of matches with intrastate foes over the weekend as the Eagles scored a 4-3 home win over Oakland (Jan. 31) before falling, 4-0, on the road at Michigan State (Feb. 1).
» The Eagles are 3-1 this year against teams from Michigan and stand 106-115 all-time against fellow Mitten State schools. Eastern has two more 'Mitten Matches' to play in 2026, including home duals with Wayne State (Feb. 22) and Western Michigan (April 19) for Senior Day.
» Eastern is in its 49th varsity season in 2026 and, following its weekend split, is now 551-468 all-time. The 4-2 win at St. Francis (Pa.), Jan. 24, stands as the 550th victory in program history.
» Prior to the loss at Michigan State, EMU was off to a 6-0 start, which tied with the 2003 and 1984 teams for the best start in program history. The Eagles also were 4-0 on the road before falling to the Spartans, a mark that tied for the third-best road winning streak in program history.
» Under Ryan Kucera, the Eagles have posted a 23-2 record at home, including an 11-0 mark in his debut season (2024), a 10-2 mark last year, and a 2-0 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 62.3 percent (33-of-53) 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 6-of-7 this year.
» In the three seasons Ryan Kucera has led the program, Eastern holds a record of 26-7 when it wins the doubles point and has won eight consecutive matches when securing the point. Conversely, EMU is 4-16 when it does not win the point.
» The match with Chattanooga will mark the team's first neutral site competition since March 5, 2022, when Eastern split matches with Oakland (L, 5-2) and St. Petersburg (W, 4-3) in Orlando, Fla. The Eagles are 103-55 all-time in neutral site matches and have faced 82 different teams in those duals.
» 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.
LAST TIME OUT: ROAD SPLIT
Eastern splits its two matches last week with a 4-3 home win over Oakland (Jan. 31) before falling at Michigan State (Feb. 1), 4-0. The win over the Golden Grizzlies ran the Eagles' record to 6-0 and tied for the best start in program history with the 2002-03 squad with the loss to the Spartans halting the run as well as ending a 4-0 start to the year in road matches, which ranks as the third-best start in program history.
STRAIGHT TO THE (DOUBLES) POINT
Eastern has captured the doubles point in 6-of-7 matches (85.7 percent) played this season and have secured the point in 62.3 percent of matches played under Ryan Kucera (33-of-53) 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 53 matches played, the Eagles have won the doubles point 33 times (60.0 percent) which has translated into a 26-7 record in the team match and wins in eight consecutive team matches when winning the doubles point. Conversely, the Eagles are 4-16 when they don't win the doubles point.
NEARLY DOUBLED THE DOUBLES
The Eagles have fared well in doubles play this fall as four pairs have combined to start 21 matches with a 14-3 record and four abandoned. The team of freshmen Matilde Parreira and Sabrina Tolstova are 5-1 this spring with the duo of Lara Diaz Zayas and Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya sitting at 5-2. Iva Daneva and Regina Mendez Carreño are 4-0 as well.
STRONG START
With its 4-0 loss at Michigan State, Feb. 1, Eastern saw its perfect start to the season come to an end as the Eagles now stand 6-1. 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.
ROAD WINS
The loss at Michigan State (Feb. 1) also was the first of the year on the road for the Eagles, 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.
HOME PROTECTION
Since taking over the program ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Eagles hold a 23-2 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 2-0 in 2026 following their 4-3 defeat of Oakland (Jan. 31). 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-most (10) in single-season history for the program.
DOUBLE THE FUN
Following the double dip at Ferris State (Jan. 19), Eastern has played 58 same-day doubleheaders in its history, winning both matches 28 times, splitting 27 times, and being swept just three times. Holding an all-time record of 82-34 in doubleheader matches, Eastern is now 27-22 when those matches are played on the road. All told, EMU is 38-20 in the opening match of the double dip and 44-14 in the second match. The Eagles will look to add to those numbers with their matches in Richmond, Ky., Friday.
KNOW THE FOE: EASTERN KENTUCKY
The Colonels are 1-5 overall this year and have dropped their last two matches, including a 6-1 loss at Indiana and a 7-0 setback at Louisville. EKU opened the year with two home losses, including 5-0 to East Tennessee State and 4-1 to Marshall, but did score a 5-2 road win at Dayton, Jan. 30.
IN THE SERIES: EASTERN KENTUCKY
The Easterns are meeting for the 12th time with the Eagles holding an 8-3 record despite the Colonels winning the most recent meeting, a 6-1 decision, Jan. 19, 2013, in Richmond, Ky. EMU leads the series, 4-2, when playing on EKU's home courts with the Colonels' win in 2013 snapping a four-match winning streak for the Eagles. The series, which began with an EKU home win in 1981, was played annually from 1984-89 with the Eagles posting a 5-1 record in those six meetings.
THE LAST TIME VS. THE COLONELS
Eastern Kentucky won the last meeting, 6-1, when the two teams met in Richmond, Ky., Jan. 19, 2013. The host Colonels jumped out to a 1-0 lead by securing the doubles point before extending the lead to 3-0 with wins at No. 1 and No. 4 singles. Klara Supejova captured a win at No. 2 for EMU to halt the run, but the hosts would add wins in the final three matches to close out their 6-1 victory.
KNOW THE FOE: CHATTANOOGA
The Mocs hold a 2-1 record and are coming off their first lost of the year, a 6-1 setback at Georgia Tech, Feb. 1. Chattanooga opened its season with a pair of home wins, including a 7-0 shutout of Lee and a 6-1 defeat of Georgia State.
IN THE SERIES: CHATTANOOGA
Eastern and Chattanooga are meeting for the first time. The Mocs will be the first of two schools the Eagles will face for the first time this year with the second coming March 15 when EMU travels to play MAC newcomer UMass.
NEUTRAL GROUND
The match with Chattanooga will mark the first neutral site competition for the Eagles since the 2022 season when Eastern defeated St. Petersburg, 4-3, at UCF in Orlando, Fla., March 5, 2022. Eastern is 103-55 in neutral site competitions and have played those 158 matches against 82 different opponents with Chattanooga set to become the 83rd on the list.
ON THE HORIZON
Eastern returns to the road for a pair of matches next week as the Eagles are set to face DePaul University and Butler University on consecutive days. The Eagles and Blue Demons will meet Friday, Feb. 13, at 12:30 p.m. CT (1:30 p.m. ET) in Chicago, Ill., before the Eagles and Bulldogs square off at 4 p.m., Feb. 14, in Indianapolis.
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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