Ypsilanti, Mich. — This Sunday, April 19, the Eastern Michigan University tennis team will wrap up its 2025-26 season with a match against Western Michigan University. The game, part of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), starts at 1 p.m. at the Chippewa Club. Before the match, fans will honor senior Regina Mendez Carreño for her dedication and performance over the past four years.
Mendez Carreño joined the Eagles in the 2022-23 season and has been a vital player, competing in both singles and doubles. As she approaches her last match, she boasts 47 combined wins: 32 in singles and 15 in doubles. This season, she has matched her best performance with 12 singles wins and has doubled her doubles victories, achieving eight.
Recently, the Eagles faced a tough match against Miami, losing 6-1. Freshman Pehal Kharadkar was the standout, securing the only victory for the team in a hard-fought three-set match.
The team’s performance this year shows significant contributions from its freshmen, who have collectively accounted for 76% of the team’s wins. Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya leads the freshmen with 16 singles victories, while Matilde Parreira closely follows with 15. Parreira has been especially impactful, clinching wins in 40% of the team’s overall victories this season.
Eastern Michigan has demonstrated strong resilience this season, especially in doubles. Under head coach Ryan Kucera, the Eagles have won over 54% of their doubles point contests. This strategy has proven successful, as they hold a record of 29-7 when they win the doubles point.
The upcoming match against Western Michigan is significant. Historically, the Broncos lead the series with 46 wins to the Eagles’ 17. However, both teams have exchanged victories in their last eight encounters. Given the competitive nature of their previous matches, fans can expect an exciting showdown.
This season has also been marked by home court advantage for Eastern. With a home record of 25-4 since Kucera took over, the Eagles are looking to build on their home success and finish strong against a key rival.
As they enter this final match, the Eagles are not just playing for victory but also to celebrate their achievements and the growth of their young talent. Whatever the result, it’s clear that the future of EMU tennis is bright.
For more insights on college tennis and updates on Eastern Michigan University, check out the latest from EMUEagles.com.
