Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Tennis Adds Batinic & Salek to 2026-27 Roster
8/12/2026 10:52:00 AM | Tennis
Former teammates at Findlay are set to join their former head coach in Ypsilanti
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University tennis program has added a pair of transfers to its 2026-27 roster, Head Coach Jeff Westmeyer announced today, Aug. 12, with both Maria Batinic and Valentina Salek joining the Eagles from the University of Findlay where they previously played under Westmeyer.
Batinic (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Online HS / Findlay) comes to Ypsilanti as a second-year player and will have four years to compete under the new NCAA Age-Based Eligibility model while Salek (San Juan de Morros, Venezuela/UE de Talento Deportivo/Findlay) is a fourth-year player with two years to play. Both were instrumental in helping the Oilers capture the 2026 Great Midwest Conference regular season and postseason championships before Findlay advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
"Masha is a fierce competitor who expects to win every time she plays, no matter who she is playing," Westmeyer said of Batinic. "Her competitive spirit helped her have great results last year in her first year playing college tennis. She also shows up to practice with intent and a purpose to improve every day. I'm thrilled Masha is a part of our program at Eastern Michigan."
Batinic is coming off a stellar freshman campaign in which she was named to the All-Great Midwest Conference First Team while also being selected as the G-MAC Freshman of the Year after collecting a combined 48 wins that included a 25-5 record in singles and a 23-6 mark in doubles action. Ranked as high as No. 32 in the ITA NCAA Division II singles rankings, Batinic played at the No. 2 position much of the season and won her final 19 singles matches that were completed, including throughout the postseason. She also was successful on the junior circuit before returning to the United States as she competed around Europe in numerous J30 tournaments, including the 2025 Lexus Junior International Newport event that she won.
"Val is a dynamic tennis player with the ability to hit any shot in the game," Westmeyer said. "She has shown tremendous improvement since she started playing in college and has the talent to continue improving. Val is also a great person and teammate. I am elated that Val is joining our team."
Salek played her first three collegiate seasons under Westmeyer at Findlay and made a name for herself in the Oilers' record book. A three-time All-G-MAC Second Team honoree, Salek won at least 30 combined matches each season to boast a record of 122-35 with UF that saw her go 57-18 in singles and 65-17 in doubles. Her singles total ranked fifth all-time in UF history while her doubles title tied for the fourth-highest. Her 2025-26 season saw her step up her win totals as she was 21-5 in singles and 31-7 in doubles action to post 52 combined wins on the year. Prior to her time at Findlay, she was a highly ranked junior in her native Venezuela. In 2019, she was selected to represent her country in the Czech Republic at the ITF Junior World Championships where she played both singles and doubles.
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2026-27 Eastern Michigan Tennis Newcomer Biographies
Maria Batinic
Y-2 • 5-4
Rochester Hills, Mich. / Online School / Findlay
Awards & Honors:
2025-26 Great Midwest Conference Freshman of the Year
2025-26 All-Great Midwest Conference First Team Selection
1x Great Midwest Conference Player of the Week (2025-26)
EMU: Comes to Ypsilanti as a second-year player with four seasons of eligibility remaining… FINDLAY: Had a remarkable freshman season with Findlay as she helped the Oilers win the Great Midwest Conference regular season and tournament titles before capturing the NCAA Midwest Region #2 crown and advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in program history… 2025-26: Named the Great Midwest Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the All-G-MAC First Team… Posted a combined record of 48-11 on the year that included a 25-5 mark in singles play and a 23-6 record in doubles action… Won her final 19 singles bouts of the season to help spur the team's championship run that included the regular season and tournament titles in the G-MAC… Helped the Oilers win the NCAA Midwest Region #2 title to advance to the NCAA Division II Championship tournament for the first time in program history… Climbed as high as No. 32 in the ITA national singles rankings… HIGH SCHOOL: Attended an online school in Russia… Won an ITF J30 singles title at the Lexus Junior International Newport (Great Britain) in 2025… Added quarterfinal appearances at the Tallink Junior Open (Estonia) and Jurmala Open (Latvia)… PERSONAL: Full Name: Maria Batinic… Daughter of Zeljko and Yuliya Batinic… Biochemistry major.
Valentina Salek
Y-4 • 5-4
San Juan de Morros, Venezuela / UE de Talento Deportivo / Findlay
Awards & Honors:
2025-26 All-Great Midwest Conference Second Team
2024-25 All-Great Midwest Conference Second Team
2023-24 All-Great Midwest Conference Second Team
1x Great Midwest Conference Player of the Week (2025-26)
2025-26 Great Midwest Conference All-Academic
2024-25 Great Midwest Conference All-Academic
2023-24 Great Midwest Conference All-Academic
EMU: Comes to Ypsilanti as a fourth-year player with two seasons of eligibility remaining… FINDLAY: Played three seasons with the Oilers and compiled an overall record of 57-18 in singles, 65-17 in doubles, and 122-35 combined… Earned a place on the All-Great Midwest Conference Second Team all three years at Findlay…2025-26: Instrumental in helping the program to its first NCAA Division II Championship appearance where the Oilers fell in the national quarterfinals… Helped Findlay capture the G-MAC regular season and tournament crowns before winning the NCAA Midwest Region #2 tournament to advance to nationals… Compiled a record 21-5 in singles action and 31-7 in doubles play that included undefeated records in league play in both singles (5-0) and doubles (9-0)… Her victories moved her up the UF rankings ladder as her 57 career singles wins ranked No. 5 on the program's all-time victories list while her 65 doubles wins tied her No. 4… Named to the All-G-MAC Second Team for the third consecutive season and earned G-MAC All-Academic honors as well… 2024-25: Tallied 30 combined wins for the second consecutive season after posting a 14-6 singles record and a 16-6 mark in doubles… Finished the year ranked No. 23 in the ITA rankings in doubles with playing partner Polina Zaytseva… Garnered All-G-MAC Second Team and G-MAC All-Academic honors… 2023-24: Opened her collegiate career with 40 combined wins as she posted records of 22-7 in singles and 18-4 in doubles… Earned a spot on the All-G-MAC Second Team after going 9-3 in conference action… HIGH SCHOOL: Attended UE de Talento Deportivo… Represented Venezuela at the 2019 ITF Junior World Championships, playing both singles and doubles in the team event… PERSONAL: Full Name: Mariavalentina Victoria Salek Rivero… Daughter of Alfredo Salek and Maria Jose Rivero… Has one brother, Josemiguel Salek… ISP major.
Batinic (Rochester Hills, Mich. / Online HS / Findlay) comes to Ypsilanti as a second-year player and will have four years to compete under the new NCAA Age-Based Eligibility model while Salek (San Juan de Morros, Venezuela/UE de Talento Deportivo/Findlay) is a fourth-year player with two years to play. Both were instrumental in helping the Oilers capture the 2026 Great Midwest Conference regular season and postseason championships before Findlay advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
"Masha is a fierce competitor who expects to win every time she plays, no matter who she is playing," Westmeyer said of Batinic. "Her competitive spirit helped her have great results last year in her first year playing college tennis. She also shows up to practice with intent and a purpose to improve every day. I'm thrilled Masha is a part of our program at Eastern Michigan."
Batinic is coming off a stellar freshman campaign in which she was named to the All-Great Midwest Conference First Team while also being selected as the G-MAC Freshman of the Year after collecting a combined 48 wins that included a 25-5 record in singles and a 23-6 mark in doubles action. Ranked as high as No. 32 in the ITA NCAA Division II singles rankings, Batinic played at the No. 2 position much of the season and won her final 19 singles matches that were completed, including throughout the postseason. She also was successful on the junior circuit before returning to the United States as she competed around Europe in numerous J30 tournaments, including the 2025 Lexus Junior International Newport event that she won.
"Val is a dynamic tennis player with the ability to hit any shot in the game," Westmeyer said. "She has shown tremendous improvement since she started playing in college and has the talent to continue improving. Val is also a great person and teammate. I am elated that Val is joining our team."
Salek played her first three collegiate seasons under Westmeyer at Findlay and made a name for herself in the Oilers' record book. A three-time All-G-MAC Second Team honoree, Salek won at least 30 combined matches each season to boast a record of 122-35 with UF that saw her go 57-18 in singles and 65-17 in doubles. Her singles total ranked fifth all-time in UF history while her doubles title tied for the fourth-highest. Her 2025-26 season saw her step up her win totals as she was 21-5 in singles and 31-7 in doubles action to post 52 combined wins on the year. Prior to her time at Findlay, she was a highly ranked junior in her native Venezuela. In 2019, she was selected to represent her country in the Czech Republic at the ITF Junior World Championships where she played both singles and doubles.
Follow Us
For all things EMU Tennis, be sure to check out the team's social media accounts, including EMUEaglesTennis on Twitter and EMU_Tennis on Instagram.
2026-27 Eastern Michigan Tennis Newcomer Biographies
Maria Batinic
Y-2 • 5-4
Rochester Hills, Mich. / Online School / Findlay
Awards & Honors:
2025-26 Great Midwest Conference Freshman of the Year
2025-26 All-Great Midwest Conference First Team Selection
1x Great Midwest Conference Player of the Week (2025-26)
EMU: Comes to Ypsilanti as a second-year player with four seasons of eligibility remaining… FINDLAY: Had a remarkable freshman season with Findlay as she helped the Oilers win the Great Midwest Conference regular season and tournament titles before capturing the NCAA Midwest Region #2 crown and advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in program history… 2025-26: Named the Great Midwest Conference Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the All-G-MAC First Team… Posted a combined record of 48-11 on the year that included a 25-5 mark in singles play and a 23-6 record in doubles action… Won her final 19 singles bouts of the season to help spur the team's championship run that included the regular season and tournament titles in the G-MAC… Helped the Oilers win the NCAA Midwest Region #2 title to advance to the NCAA Division II Championship tournament for the first time in program history… Climbed as high as No. 32 in the ITA national singles rankings… HIGH SCHOOL: Attended an online school in Russia… Won an ITF J30 singles title at the Lexus Junior International Newport (Great Britain) in 2025… Added quarterfinal appearances at the Tallink Junior Open (Estonia) and Jurmala Open (Latvia)… PERSONAL: Full Name: Maria Batinic… Daughter of Zeljko and Yuliya Batinic… Biochemistry major.
Valentina Salek
Y-4 • 5-4
San Juan de Morros, Venezuela / UE de Talento Deportivo / Findlay
Awards & Honors:
2025-26 All-Great Midwest Conference Second Team
2024-25 All-Great Midwest Conference Second Team
2023-24 All-Great Midwest Conference Second Team
1x Great Midwest Conference Player of the Week (2025-26)
2025-26 Great Midwest Conference All-Academic
2024-25 Great Midwest Conference All-Academic
2023-24 Great Midwest Conference All-Academic
EMU: Comes to Ypsilanti as a fourth-year player with two seasons of eligibility remaining… FINDLAY: Played three seasons with the Oilers and compiled an overall record of 57-18 in singles, 65-17 in doubles, and 122-35 combined… Earned a place on the All-Great Midwest Conference Second Team all three years at Findlay…2025-26: Instrumental in helping the program to its first NCAA Division II Championship appearance where the Oilers fell in the national quarterfinals… Helped Findlay capture the G-MAC regular season and tournament crowns before winning the NCAA Midwest Region #2 tournament to advance to nationals… Compiled a record 21-5 in singles action and 31-7 in doubles play that included undefeated records in league play in both singles (5-0) and doubles (9-0)… Her victories moved her up the UF rankings ladder as her 57 career singles wins ranked No. 5 on the program's all-time victories list while her 65 doubles wins tied her No. 4… Named to the All-G-MAC Second Team for the third consecutive season and earned G-MAC All-Academic honors as well… 2024-25: Tallied 30 combined wins for the second consecutive season after posting a 14-6 singles record and a 16-6 mark in doubles… Finished the year ranked No. 23 in the ITA rankings in doubles with playing partner Polina Zaytseva… Garnered All-G-MAC Second Team and G-MAC All-Academic honors… 2023-24: Opened her collegiate career with 40 combined wins as she posted records of 22-7 in singles and 18-4 in doubles… Earned a spot on the All-G-MAC Second Team after going 9-3 in conference action… HIGH SCHOOL: Attended UE de Talento Deportivo… Represented Venezuela at the 2019 ITF Junior World Championships, playing both singles and doubles in the team event… PERSONAL: Full Name: Mariavalentina Victoria Salek Rivero… Daughter of Alfredo Salek and Maria Jose Rivero… Has one brother, Josemiguel Salek… ISP major.
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