Eastern Michigan Athletics
Staff Directory
Elina Ivanova
- Title:
- Graduate Assistant Coach
Elina Ivanova is entering her first season with the Eastern Michigan University tennis program in 2026-27 as a graduate assistant coach. Ivanova comes to Ypsilanti after one season as a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois-Springfield and a playing career at the University of Findlay under current EMU Head Coach Jeff Westmeyer.
During the 2025-26 season, Ivanova served as a graduate assistant coach at UIS and worked with both the women’s and men’s programs as the staff facilitated a remarkable turnaround. Both Prairie Stars teams improved by seven wins over their respective 2024-25 campaigns as the men went 7-11 after posting a 0-12 mark the year prior while the women improved to 8-12 after a 1-11 season. Ivanova worked with a pair of all-conference honorees throughout the season as Cristina Mendoza Romero (women) and Pablo Herrera (men) were both named All-GVLC First Team selections.
As a student-athlete, Ivanova competed under Westmeyer at Findlay from 2021-25 where she helped the Oilers earn a top 10 national ranking among NCAA Division II programs. Playing at the top of the lineup in singles and doubles for UF, she captured a program-record 148 combined wins while setting the standard for career singles wins with 64 and doubles wins with 84. Ranked as high as No. 43 nationally and No. 12 regionally in singles, Ivanova also was a member of a doubles tandem that ranked No. 32 nationally and No. 9 in the region.
Throughout her career, she collected four all-conference honors, including being selected to the first team three times and the second team once. Her play helped the Oilers capture the 2024 G-MAC Championship and reach the NCAA Midwest Region Tournament four times.
Prior to her time at Findlay, Ivanova, who has also coached padel, climbed as high as No. 57 in the Russian U18 national tennis rankings. She reached numerous singles and doubles tennis finals and captured titles in both at Russian national tournaments as well.
Elina Ivanova File
Full Name: Elina Ivanova
Hometown: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
High School: Gymnasium 50
College: University of Findlay • Computer Science, 2021
Coaching Experience
Year: Organization • Position • Notes
2026-pre: Eastern Michigan University • Graduate Assistant Coach
2025-26: University of Illinois-Springfield • Graduate Assistant Coach (Men & Women)
During the 2025-26 season, Ivanova served as a graduate assistant coach at UIS and worked with both the women’s and men’s programs as the staff facilitated a remarkable turnaround. Both Prairie Stars teams improved by seven wins over their respective 2024-25 campaigns as the men went 7-11 after posting a 0-12 mark the year prior while the women improved to 8-12 after a 1-11 season. Ivanova worked with a pair of all-conference honorees throughout the season as Cristina Mendoza Romero (women) and Pablo Herrera (men) were both named All-GVLC First Team selections.
As a student-athlete, Ivanova competed under Westmeyer at Findlay from 2021-25 where she helped the Oilers earn a top 10 national ranking among NCAA Division II programs. Playing at the top of the lineup in singles and doubles for UF, she captured a program-record 148 combined wins while setting the standard for career singles wins with 64 and doubles wins with 84. Ranked as high as No. 43 nationally and No. 12 regionally in singles, Ivanova also was a member of a doubles tandem that ranked No. 32 nationally and No. 9 in the region.
Throughout her career, she collected four all-conference honors, including being selected to the first team three times and the second team once. Her play helped the Oilers capture the 2024 G-MAC Championship and reach the NCAA Midwest Region Tournament four times.
Prior to her time at Findlay, Ivanova, who has also coached padel, climbed as high as No. 57 in the Russian U18 national tennis rankings. She reached numerous singles and doubles tennis finals and captured titles in both at Russian national tournaments as well.
Elina Ivanova File
Full Name: Elina Ivanova
Hometown: Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
High School: Gymnasium 50
College: University of Findlay • Computer Science, 2021
Coaching Experience
Year: Organization • Position • Notes
2026-pre: Eastern Michigan University • Graduate Assistant Coach
2025-26: University of Illinois-Springfield • Graduate Assistant Coach (Men & Women)
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Tuesday, August 11
