Eastern Michigan Athletics
Friday, April 3
Muncie, Ind.
TBA
Eastern Michigan University
at
Ball State
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Eastern Hits the Road to Face Ball State Friday
4/1/2026 2:44:00 PM | Tennis
Eagles looking to get back into the win column following tough home loss
| Spring Dual #20 | at BALL STATE | |
| Date | Friday, April 3 | 12 p.m. |
| Venue | Foster Adams Family Tennis Complex | Muncie, Ind. |
| Preview Info | EMU Notes | Media Guide |
| Live | Live Scoring | Watch (PlaySight) |
| @EMUEaglesTennis | @EMUAthletics | |
MUNCIE, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University tennis team returns to the road this week for one Mid-American Conference match as the Eagles will travel to Muncie, Ind., Friday, April 3, for a 12 p.m. contest against the Cardinals of Ball State University at the Foster Adams Family Tennis Complex. The Eagles (10-9, 1-4 MAC) and Cardinals (8-7, 1-3 MAC) have seen their last three matches against one another finish with 4-3 scores with Eastern claiming the last two matches.
FIRST SERVES
» The Eagles are 10-9 overall and 1-4 in MAC play after dropping their lone match of the week, a 6-1 setback to visiting Buffalo (March 27).
» Freshman Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya was the lone victor in the match as she battled her way to a three-set win at No. 1 singles, giving three consecutive victories in the top spot.
» The Eagles' four freshmen have combined to win 55 of the team's 73 wins this season (75.3 percent) with Matilde Parreira (15 wins) and Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya (15) leading the way.
» Matilde Parreira recorded the clinching point at No. 5 singles against Toledo (March 22) and was part of the doubles-clinching team with Sabrina Tolstova as well. Parreira has clinched the team's winning point in 4-of-10 victories (40. 0 percent) while she and Tolstova have captured 6-of-9 clinching wins in doubles (66.7). All told, she has had a hand in 52.6 percent of all clinching points this year.
» Regina Mendez Carreño secured wins at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles against NIU (March 13) to mark her first career MAC victories in both. She entered the dual 0-6 all-time in MAC singles matches and had not played doubles in a MAC contest before taking on the Huskies.
» Eastern is in its 49th varsity season in 2026 and, following its weekend split, is now 555-476 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 25-4 record at home, including an 11-0 mark in his debut season (2024), a 10-2 mark last year, and a 4-2 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 55.4 percent (36-of-65) 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 9-of-19 this year.
» In the three seasons Ryan Kucera has led the program, Eastern holds a record of 29-7 when it wins the doubles point and has won 11 consecutive matches when securing the point. Conversely, EMU is 5-24 when it does not win the point, including its 4-3 win at home over Bradley, Feb. 20.
» 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: HOME LOSS TO BUFFALO
The Eagles dropped their most recent match, 6-1, to visiting Buffalo, March 27, with Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya claiming the lone point of the match for Eastern as she won in three sets at No. 1. The freshman dropped the first set before coming back to win the second set in a tiebreaker and breeze through the third set for a 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-1 win. While Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya was able to win her match, three other Eagles took their opponents to a third set but were unable to secure a win.
STRAIGHT TO THE (DOUBLES) POINT
Eastern has captured the doubles point in 9-of-19 matches (47.4 percent) played this season and has secured the point in 55.4 percent of matches played under Ryan Kucera (36-of-65) 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 65 matches played, the Eagles have won the doubles point 36 times (55.4 percent) which has translated into a 29-7 record in the team match and wins in 11 consecutive team duals when winning the doubles point. Conversely, the Eagles are 5-24 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 with Buffalo (March 27), the Eagles have captured the doubles point nine times this year with the team of Matilde Parreira and Sabrina Tolstova adding the point-clinching win six times, including most recently against the Rockets with their 6-4 decision at the No. 2 spot. The freshmen duo has clinched the point five times from the No. 2 position while adding one at the No. 1 spot.
BRINGING IN THE CLOSER?
Following her clinching point at No. 5 singles against Toledo (March 22), Matilde Parreira has been a closer of late for the Eagles as she clinched the deciding point four times in the Eagles' 10 victories in 2026 (40.0 percent). Adding in the six doubles points clinched with playing partner Sabrina Tolstova, Parreira has had a hand in 10 of the 19 clinching points (6-of-9 doubles points and 4-of-10 team dual points) this season, equating to 52.6 percent.
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 Buffalo (March 27). Matilde Parreira leads the team in singles wins (15) and combined wins (28) while sitting tied for the lead in doubles victories with playing partner Sabrina Tolstova (13). Tolstova has also reached 26 combined wins in her rookie season as she has added 13 singles wins. Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya has added 15 singles wins while securing 23 combined wins while Pehal Kharadkar each have added 12 singles wins. All told, the four rookies have combined to win 55 of the team's 73 singles wins this year (75.3 percent of the wins).
A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING
Ahead of the match with Northern Illinois (March 13), Regina Mendez Carreño had not won a MAC match in her career as she stood 0-6 in singles and had not competed in doubles. The senior played both singles and doubles against the Huskies where she secured her first wins in both. In doubles, she paired with Iva Daneva to grab a 6-2 victory at No. 3 before she secured a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles. Mendez Carreño has secured 46 combined wins in her career, leaving her four away from reaching 50.
KNOW THE FOE: BALL STATE
Ball State enters the week with an 8-7 overall record and stand 1-3 in the MAC after splitting a pair of conference matches last week, including a 5-2 win at Bowling Green (March 27) following by a 4-3 loss at Western Michigan (March 29). The Cardinals are 3-1 at home this year with their lone loss coming in their most recent home contest, a 4-3 setback to visiting UMass (March 22). The last time Ball State won at home was March 1 with its 6-1 victory over visiting Cleveland State.
IN THE SERIES: BALL STATE
Eastern leads the series with Ball State, 35-15, and has won the past two matches, both by 4-3 scores, including the win, April 18, 2025, in Muncie, Ind. Of the 50 matches played, 12 have finished in one-point decisions with the Eagles holding a 7-5 advantage with the teams playing to a 4-3 score in their last three meetings and in seven of the last 11 matches (EMU is 4-3). Eastern is 14-8 when playing the Cardinals in Muncie with its 4-3 win last year snapping a six-match losing streak on Ball State's home courts.
THE LAST TIME VS. BALL STATE
The Eagles and Cardinals met in Muncie, Ind., April 18, 2025, with Eastern escaping with a 4-3 win on the final day of the regular season. After the hosts took a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point, Daniella Shved tied the match with her win at No. 1 singles. The teams traded points with a Ball State win at No. 5 followed by Viki Hazmukova winning at No. 2 before Marta Komar was victorious at No. 6. With a 3-2 lead, Prerna Vichare won her match at No. 3 singles to secure the team victory for EMU.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
Eastern and Ball State have seen 12 of its 50 matches decided by one point with a 4-3 score produced in each of the last three meetings and eight of the last 16. The two teams have played one-point matches six times in Muncie, including four of the last five meetings, with the Eagles winning the most recent entry (April 18, 2025) after the Cardinals had won three such matches in the last four in Muncie.
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 is 6-6 on the road in 2025-26.
HOME PROTECTION
Since taking over the program ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Eagles hold a 25-4 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 4-2 in 2026. 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
The final road match of the 2025-26 regular season awaits Eastern Michigan next time out as the Eagles will head to Oxford, Ohio, to face Miami University in a 12 p.m. contest, Sunday, April 12.
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 10-9 overall and 1-4 in MAC play after dropping their lone match of the week, a 6-1 setback to visiting Buffalo (March 27).
» Freshman Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya was the lone victor in the match as she battled her way to a three-set win at No. 1 singles, giving three consecutive victories in the top spot.
» The Eagles' four freshmen have combined to win 55 of the team's 73 wins this season (75.3 percent) with Matilde Parreira (15 wins) and Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya (15) leading the way.
» Matilde Parreira recorded the clinching point at No. 5 singles against Toledo (March 22) and was part of the doubles-clinching team with Sabrina Tolstova as well. Parreira has clinched the team's winning point in 4-of-10 victories (40. 0 percent) while she and Tolstova have captured 6-of-9 clinching wins in doubles (66.7). All told, she has had a hand in 52.6 percent of all clinching points this year.
» Regina Mendez Carreño secured wins at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles against NIU (March 13) to mark her first career MAC victories in both. She entered the dual 0-6 all-time in MAC singles matches and had not played doubles in a MAC contest before taking on the Huskies.
» Eastern is in its 49th varsity season in 2026 and, following its weekend split, is now 555-476 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 25-4 record at home, including an 11-0 mark in his debut season (2024), a 10-2 mark last year, and a 4-2 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 55.4 percent (36-of-65) 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 9-of-19 this year.
» In the three seasons Ryan Kucera has led the program, Eastern holds a record of 29-7 when it wins the doubles point and has won 11 consecutive matches when securing the point. Conversely, EMU is 5-24 when it does not win the point, including its 4-3 win at home over Bradley, Feb. 20.
» 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: HOME LOSS TO BUFFALO
The Eagles dropped their most recent match, 6-1, to visiting Buffalo, March 27, with Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya claiming the lone point of the match for Eastern as she won in three sets at No. 1. The freshman dropped the first set before coming back to win the second set in a tiebreaker and breeze through the third set for a 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-1 win. While Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya was able to win her match, three other Eagles took their opponents to a third set but were unable to secure a win.
STRAIGHT TO THE (DOUBLES) POINT
Eastern has captured the doubles point in 9-of-19 matches (47.4 percent) played this season and has secured the point in 55.4 percent of matches played under Ryan Kucera (36-of-65) 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 65 matches played, the Eagles have won the doubles point 36 times (55.4 percent) which has translated into a 29-7 record in the team match and wins in 11 consecutive team duals when winning the doubles point. Conversely, the Eagles are 5-24 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 with Buffalo (March 27), the Eagles have captured the doubles point nine times this year with the team of Matilde Parreira and Sabrina Tolstova adding the point-clinching win six times, including most recently against the Rockets with their 6-4 decision at the No. 2 spot. The freshmen duo has clinched the point five times from the No. 2 position while adding one at the No. 1 spot.
BRINGING IN THE CLOSER?
Following her clinching point at No. 5 singles against Toledo (March 22), Matilde Parreira has been a closer of late for the Eagles as she clinched the deciding point four times in the Eagles' 10 victories in 2026 (40.0 percent). Adding in the six doubles points clinched with playing partner Sabrina Tolstova, Parreira has had a hand in 10 of the 19 clinching points (6-of-9 doubles points and 4-of-10 team dual points) this season, equating to 52.6 percent.
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 Buffalo (March 27). Matilde Parreira leads the team in singles wins (15) and combined wins (28) while sitting tied for the lead in doubles victories with playing partner Sabrina Tolstova (13). Tolstova has also reached 26 combined wins in her rookie season as she has added 13 singles wins. Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya has added 15 singles wins while securing 23 combined wins while Pehal Kharadkar each have added 12 singles wins. All told, the four rookies have combined to win 55 of the team's 73 singles wins this year (75.3 percent of the wins).
A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING
Ahead of the match with Northern Illinois (March 13), Regina Mendez Carreño had not won a MAC match in her career as she stood 0-6 in singles and had not competed in doubles. The senior played both singles and doubles against the Huskies where she secured her first wins in both. In doubles, she paired with Iva Daneva to grab a 6-2 victory at No. 3 before she secured a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles. Mendez Carreño has secured 46 combined wins in her career, leaving her four away from reaching 50.
KNOW THE FOE: BALL STATE
Ball State enters the week with an 8-7 overall record and stand 1-3 in the MAC after splitting a pair of conference matches last week, including a 5-2 win at Bowling Green (March 27) following by a 4-3 loss at Western Michigan (March 29). The Cardinals are 3-1 at home this year with their lone loss coming in their most recent home contest, a 4-3 setback to visiting UMass (March 22). The last time Ball State won at home was March 1 with its 6-1 victory over visiting Cleveland State.
IN THE SERIES: BALL STATE
Eastern leads the series with Ball State, 35-15, and has won the past two matches, both by 4-3 scores, including the win, April 18, 2025, in Muncie, Ind. Of the 50 matches played, 12 have finished in one-point decisions with the Eagles holding a 7-5 advantage with the teams playing to a 4-3 score in their last three meetings and in seven of the last 11 matches (EMU is 4-3). Eastern is 14-8 when playing the Cardinals in Muncie with its 4-3 win last year snapping a six-match losing streak on Ball State's home courts.
THE LAST TIME VS. BALL STATE
The Eagles and Cardinals met in Muncie, Ind., April 18, 2025, with Eastern escaping with a 4-3 win on the final day of the regular season. After the hosts took a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point, Daniella Shved tied the match with her win at No. 1 singles. The teams traded points with a Ball State win at No. 5 followed by Viki Hazmukova winning at No. 2 before Marta Komar was victorious at No. 6. With a 3-2 lead, Prerna Vichare won her match at No. 3 singles to secure the team victory for EMU.
KEEPING IT CLOSE
Eastern and Ball State have seen 12 of its 50 matches decided by one point with a 4-3 score produced in each of the last three meetings and eight of the last 16. The two teams have played one-point matches six times in Muncie, including four of the last five meetings, with the Eagles winning the most recent entry (April 18, 2025) after the Cardinals had won three such matches in the last four in Muncie.
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 is 6-6 on the road in 2025-26.
HOME PROTECTION
Since taking over the program ahead of the 2023-24 season, the Eagles hold a 25-4 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 4-2 in 2026. 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
The final road match of the 2025-26 regular season awaits Eastern Michigan next time out as the Eagles will head to Oxford, Ohio, to face Miami University in a 12 p.m. contest, Sunday, April 12.
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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