YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University tennis team is set to open its 2025 dual season this week as the Eagles will welcome the Ferris State University Bulldogs to town for a doubleheader Saturday, Jan. 18, inside the Chippewa Club in Ypsilanti. The Eagles and Bulldogs will play their first match at 3:30 p.m. with the second to follow at approximately 7 p.m.
FIRST SERVES
» The 2025 spring season will feature 23 duals with 12 coming at home at the Chippewa Club. Eastern was a perfect 11-0 at home in 2024 with its last home loss coming April 16, 2023, in a 5-2 setback to visiting Miami.
» The Eagles are 23-24 all-time in their first dual of the season and have lost three in a row, including a 7-0 loss at Northwestern, Jan. 20, 2024. The last season-opening victory recorded by EMU came Jan. 30, 2021, a 4-3 win at Cleveland State.
» In those season-opening matches, EMU is 12-2 when the match is played at home. The last time Eastern’s first dual of the year was also at home was Jan. 26, 2018, in a 5-2 win over Youngstown State.
» Eastern holds a record of 29-17 in its home opener and has won two consecutive matches, including a 6-1 decision over visiting Hillsdale, Jan. 27, 2024. The Eagles have won three consecutive home openers with wins over Lawrence Tech (7-0) in 2022 and Youngstown State (6-1) in 2023.
» Ferris State is one of four Michigan schools the Eagles will face in 2025 with the others being Oakland, Michigan State, and two with Western Michigan. Eastern is 99-111 all-time against fellow Michigan institutions and went 5-2 last year.
» The 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released Jan. 7 with the Eagles voted to finish third with 35 points while Miami (48) and Toledo (38) were ranked ahead of EMU. Eastern was voted to finish fourth one year ago and did so to earn its first MAC Tournament appearance since 2018.
» The Eagles’ 2024-25 roster features 10 players, including six returnees and four newcomers. In total, nine different nations are represented on the roster, including the U.S., Argentina, Czechia, India, Israel, Mexico, North Macedonia, Poland, and Russia.
» Ryan Kucera returns for his second season as the team’s head coach and will look to guide the team to the MAC Tournament for the second year in a row, which would mark the first time it has happened since the 2014 and 2015 tournaments.
» Players are not the only addition to the roster this year as the coaching staff has added both Masha Polishchuk and Andrew Dobbs. Polishchuk, a MAC champion during her playing career at Ball State, will serve as a graduate assistant coach while Dobbs will serve as an undergraduate assistant.
MITTEN MATCHES
Eastern will play six matches in 2025 against fellow Michigan schools with four being played at home and two on the road. The Eagles, who open play with two matches against Ferris State this weekend, are one win away from their 100th all-time victory over intrastate competition (99-111 all-time). Following the matches with Ferris State, the Eagles will play Oakland (17-2 all-time) at home, Feb. 1, before traveling to Michigan State (6-41), Feb. 2. The final two matches are MAC matches with Western Michigan (15-43), including on the road, March 21, and at home, March 28.
LID LIFTING · SEASON OPENER
The Eagles are 23-24 in their first dual of the year and have lost three consecutive openers, including a 7-0 defeat at Northwestern last year (Jan. 20, 2024). Of those matches, 14 were played at home with the Eagles standing 12-2. Additionally, the Eagles are 11-7 when their first match of the year is against a fellow Michigan school with the last instance coming Jan. 23, 2020, in a 7-0 loss at Michigan State.
LID LIFTING · HOME OPENER
Eastern is 29-17 all-time in its first home dual of the season with the Eagles having won the last three instances, including a 6-1 decision over Hillsdale, Jan. 27, 2024. When the first home dual of the year is played against a fellow Michigan school, Eastern holds a 13-7 record with wins in its last two.
KNOW THE FOE: FERRIS STATE
Last year, the Bulldogs posted a 12-10 record overall and a 6-1 mark in GLIAC play with its lone loss coming to Wayne State. In the postseason, FSU advanced to the semifinals of the GLIAC Tournament where it fell to Grand Valley State. Despite the loss the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament where they fell to WSU in the semifinal, 4-0. That day, current Eagle Marta Komar was 2-0 as she won her No. 3 singles match and was victorious at No. 1 doubles as well.
IN THE SERIES: FERRIS STATE
The Eagles are 5-0 all-time against the Bulldogs with all five matches being played in Ypsilanti. The two sides first met Oct. 3, 1976, with Eastern taking a 9-0 win. The series resumed Feb. 17, 1996, with an 8-1 EMU win before the Eagles took a 9-0 win two years later, March 21, 1998. The series was on hiatus until last year when the teams played a doubleheader that EMU swept, 6-1 and 5-0.
THE LAST TIME VS. FERRIS STATE
Eastern swept a doubleheader from Ferris State, Jan. 28, 2024, inside the Chippewa Club as the Eagles took a 6-1 win before closing the day with a 5-0 sweep. Andrea Quiroz, Kseniia Saenko, and Linda Eloundou each were 2-0 in singles play to pace the Eagles as Eastern lost just one point with a three-set loss in a singles match.
ENDING A DROUGHT?
The goal every year is to win the MAC Tournament and earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament. The last time the Eagles were able to do so came in 2001 when they swept through the MAC Tournament hosted by Marshall with wins over Ball State (4-1), Western Michigan (4-2), and the host Thundering Herd (4-3). EMU advanced to the NCAA First Round where they fell at No. 8 Notre Dame, 0-4.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
The 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released Jan. 7 with the Eagles earning 35 points to rank third on the list behind Miami (48 points) and Toledo (38). The remaining rankings, which are based upon votes from the league’s coaches, were Northern Illinois (30) in fourth, Ball State (35) fifth, Buffalo (23) sixth, Western Michigan (14) seventh, and Bowling Green (seven) eighth. Additionally, the coaches cast votes on who would win the MAC Tournament, which is slated for April 24-25 in Toledo, Ohio, with Miami earning five votes while EMU, Buffalo, and Toledo each earned one.
In Ryan Kucera‘s first season with the Eagles (2023-24), Eastern was voted tied for fourth in the preseason before finishing fourth and earning a berth in the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2018. EMU dropped a 4-3 decision to host Toledo in the semifinals.
LOOKING TO REPEAT
Last year, the Eagles finished fourth in the conference standings to earn the fourth and final position in the MAC Tournament, the team’s first appearance in the conference event since the 2018 championships. Should Eastern return to the tournament this year, it would mark the first time the Eagles have qualified for the MAC Tournament in back-to-back seasons since earning berths in the 2014 and 2015 events. Eastern lost to Miami, 4-2, in the final of the 2014 event before falling to the RedHawks, 4-1, in the semifinals one year later.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
Sabina Brichackova captured two wins at the MAC Fall Individuals in Hamilton, Ohio, Oct. 24-27, to record the 99th and 100th combined wins of her career. The senior is the first to reach 100 wins in a career since the 2017-18 season when both Ani Gogvadze (117) and Andrea Matrinovska (111) capped their careers in Ypsilanti.
UP THE LADDER
Sabina Brichackova and doubles partner Prerna Vichare reached the finals at the MAC Fall Individuals, Oct. 24-27, and finished as the runners-up in the inaugural event. With the two wins they collected, each moved closer to the all-time top 20 in doubles wins as they have 49 and 48, respectively. Currently, Miriam Westerink (2008-12) and Avi Gogvadze (2014-18) are tied for 19th with 56 wins, meaning Brichackova and Vichare are seven and eight wins, respectively, from joining the all-time top 20.
ON THE HORIZON
The Eagles will travel to southwest Ohio for a pair of matches next weekend as they will play the University of Cincinnati and the University of Dayton. The Eagles open their trip by facing the Bearcats at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, inside the Western Athletic Club in Cincinnati. The trip concludes Sunday, Jan. 26, with a 10 a.m. meeting with the Flyers inside the South Regency Tennis Center in Miamisburg, Ohio.
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 2025 spring season will feature 23 duals with 12 coming at home at the Chippewa Club. Eastern was a perfect 11-0 at home in 2024 with its last home loss coming April 16, 2023, in a 5-2 setback to visiting Miami.
» The Eagles are 23-24 all-time in their first dual of the season and have lost three in a row, including a 7-0 loss at Northwestern, Jan. 20, 2024. The last season-opening victory recorded by EMU came Jan. 30, 2021, a 4-3 win at Cleveland State.
» In those season-opening matches, EMU is 12-2 when the match is played at home. The last time Eastern’s first dual of the year was also at home was Jan. 26, 2018, in a 5-2 win over Youngstown State.
» Eastern holds a record of 29-17 in its home opener and has won two consecutive matches, including a 6-1 decision over visiting Hillsdale, Jan. 27, 2024. The Eagles have won three consecutive home openers with wins over Lawrence Tech (7-0) in 2022 and Youngstown State (6-1) in 2023.
» Ferris State is one of four Michigan schools the Eagles will face in 2025 with the others being Oakland, Michigan State, and two with Western Michigan. Eastern is 99-111 all-time against fellow Michigan institutions and went 5-2 last year.
» The 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released Jan. 7 with the Eagles voted to finish third with 35 points while Miami (48) and Toledo (38) were ranked ahead of EMU. Eastern was voted to finish fourth one year ago and did so to earn its first MAC Tournament appearance since 2018.
» The Eagles’ 2024-25 roster features 10 players, including six returnees and four newcomers. In total, nine different nations are represented on the roster, including the U.S., Argentina, Czechia, India, Israel, Mexico, North Macedonia, Poland, and Russia.
» Ryan Kucera returns for his second season as the team’s head coach and will look to guide the team to the MAC Tournament for the second year in a row, which would mark the first time it has happened since the 2014 and 2015 tournaments.
» Players are not the only addition to the roster this year as the coaching staff has added both Masha Polishchuk and Andrew Dobbs. Polishchuk, a MAC champion during her playing career at Ball State, will serve as a graduate assistant coach while Dobbs will serve as an undergraduate assistant.
MITTEN MATCHES
Eastern will play six matches in 2025 against fellow Michigan schools with four being played at home and two on the road. The Eagles, who open play with two matches against Ferris State this weekend, are one win away from their 100th all-time victory over intrastate competition (99-111 all-time). Following the matches with Ferris State, the Eagles will play Oakland (17-2 all-time) at home, Feb. 1, before traveling to Michigan State (6-41), Feb. 2. The final two matches are MAC matches with Western Michigan (15-43), including on the road, March 21, and at home, March 28.
LID LIFTING · SEASON OPENER
The Eagles are 23-24 in their first dual of the year and have lost three consecutive openers, including a 7-0 defeat at Northwestern last year (Jan. 20, 2024). Of those matches, 14 were played at home with the Eagles standing 12-2. Additionally, the Eagles are 11-7 when their first match of the year is against a fellow Michigan school with the last instance coming Jan. 23, 2020, in a 7-0 loss at Michigan State.
LID LIFTING · HOME OPENER
Eastern is 29-17 all-time in its first home dual of the season with the Eagles having won the last three instances, including a 6-1 decision over Hillsdale, Jan. 27, 2024. When the first home dual of the year is played against a fellow Michigan school, Eastern holds a 13-7 record with wins in its last two.
KNOW THE FOE: FERRIS STATE
Last year, the Bulldogs posted a 12-10 record overall and a 6-1 mark in GLIAC play with its lone loss coming to Wayne State. In the postseason, FSU advanced to the semifinals of the GLIAC Tournament where it fell to Grand Valley State. Despite the loss the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament where they fell to WSU in the semifinal, 4-0. That day, current Eagle Marta Komar was 2-0 as she won her No. 3 singles match and was victorious at No. 1 doubles as well.
IN THE SERIES: FERRIS STATE
The Eagles are 5-0 all-time against the Bulldogs with all five matches being played in Ypsilanti. The two sides first met Oct. 3, 1976, with Eastern taking a 9-0 win. The series resumed Feb. 17, 1996, with an 8-1 EMU win before the Eagles took a 9-0 win two years later, March 21, 1998. The series was on hiatus until last year when the teams played a doubleheader that EMU swept, 6-1 and 5-0.
THE LAST TIME VS. FERRIS STATE
Eastern swept a doubleheader from Ferris State, Jan. 28, 2024, inside the Chippewa Club as the Eagles took a 6-1 win before closing the day with a 5-0 sweep. Andrea Quiroz, Kseniia Saenko, and Linda Eloundou each were 2-0 in singles play to pace the Eagles as Eastern lost just one point with a three-set loss in a singles match.
ENDING A DROUGHT?
The goal every year is to win the MAC Tournament and earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament. The last time the Eagles were able to do so came in 2001 when they swept through the MAC Tournament hosted by Marshall with wins over Ball State (4-1), Western Michigan (4-2), and the host Thundering Herd (4-3). EMU advanced to the NCAA First Round where they fell at No. 8 Notre Dame, 0-4.
PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
The 2025 MAC Preseason Coaches Poll was released Jan. 7 with the Eagles earning 35 points to rank third on the list behind Miami (48 points) and Toledo (38). The remaining rankings, which are based upon votes from the league’s coaches, were Northern Illinois (30) in fourth, Ball State (35) fifth, Buffalo (23) sixth, Western Michigan (14) seventh, and Bowling Green (seven) eighth. Additionally, the coaches cast votes on who would win the MAC Tournament, which is slated for April 24-25 in Toledo, Ohio, with Miami earning five votes while EMU, Buffalo, and Toledo each earned one.
In Ryan Kucera‘s first season with the Eagles (2023-24), Eastern was voted tied for fourth in the preseason before finishing fourth and earning a berth in the MAC Tournament for the first time since 2018. EMU dropped a 4-3 decision to host Toledo in the semifinals.
LOOKING TO REPEAT
Last year, the Eagles finished fourth in the conference standings to earn the fourth and final position in the MAC Tournament, the team’s first appearance in the conference event since the 2018 championships. Should Eastern return to the tournament this year, it would mark the first time the Eagles have qualified for the MAC Tournament in back-to-back seasons since earning berths in the 2014 and 2015 events. Eastern lost to Miami, 4-2, in the final of the 2014 event before falling to the RedHawks, 4-1, in the semifinals one year later.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
Sabina Brichackova captured two wins at the MAC Fall Individuals in Hamilton, Ohio, Oct. 24-27, to record the 99th and 100th combined wins of her career. The senior is the first to reach 100 wins in a career since the 2017-18 season when both Ani Gogvadze (117) and Andrea Matrinovska (111) capped their careers in Ypsilanti.
UP THE LADDER
Sabina Brichackova and doubles partner Prerna Vichare reached the finals at the MAC Fall Individuals, Oct. 24-27, and finished as the runners-up in the inaugural event. With the two wins they collected, each moved closer to the all-time top 20 in doubles wins as they have 49 and 48, respectively. Currently, Miriam Westerink (2008-12) and Avi Gogvadze (2014-18) are tied for 19th with 56 wins, meaning Brichackova and Vichare are seven and eight wins, respectively, from joining the all-time top 20.
ON THE HORIZON
The Eagles will travel to southwest Ohio for a pair of matches next weekend as they will play the University of Cincinnati and the University of Dayton. The Eagles open their trip by facing the Bearcats at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, inside the Western Athletic Club in Cincinnati. The trip concludes Sunday, Jan. 26, with a 10 a.m. meeting with the Flyers inside the South Regency Tennis Center in Miamisburg, Ohio.
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.
