EVANSTON, Ill. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University tennis team dropped a 7-0 decision to host Northwestern University Saturday, Jan. 20, as the Eagles opened their 2024 dual season on the road inside the Combe Tennis Center. The Eagles fell to 0-1 on the year while the Wildcats, who played twice Saturday, improved to 3-0.
 
Quoting Kucera
“It is definitely frustrating to have a result like that,” Head Coach Ryan Kucera said. “I’m incredibly proud of the way we competed and there are a lot of positives to take from this. We are definitely a better doubles team now than we were in the fall by a good margin. Danny (Daniella Shved) and Andrea (Quiroz) really brought it today. They had a great plan, communicated well, and they were committed to their execution.
 
“In singles, it was a great effort,” Kucera continued. “We got better as the match went along on most courts. The girls were really committed to problem-solving and trying to figure it out. Northwestern just did a great job of being disciplined, especially on the big points. They were incredibly disciplined in the corners and took the chances at the right opportunity. That’s something we’re learning and something that we will continue to get better at as we go and get more matches under our belt.”
 
How It Happened
The dual opened with the Wildcats taking the doubles points by taking wins at both No. 1 and No. 2. The No. 3 match between EMU’s Daniella Shved (Holon, Israel/Ort Holon) and Andrea Quiroz (Lima, Peru/La Molina 1278/Alcorn State) and NU’s Britany Lau and Maria Shusharina was tied at 4-4, but was unfinished as the Wildcats’ wins at the remaining two position secured the doubles point.
 
In singles, the Eagles were unable to secure a set as the hosts took all six matches to claim the win. The Eagles featured five players that returned from last year’s team in Shved at No. 1, Prerna Vichare (Mumbai, India/Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics) at No. 2, Quiroz at No. 3, Linda Eloundou (Yaounde, Cameroon/Augustine Meyou/New Mexico Military Institute) at No. 5, and Sabina Brichackova (Cheb, Czech Republic/Gymnázium Jana Blahoslava) at No. 6 with freshman Ksyusha Saenko (Voronezh, Russia/Gymnasium 2) playing at No. 4 for Eastern.
 
Notes
›› The dual marked the first for the Eagles under first-year Head Coach Ryan Kucera.
›› The Eagles are now 23-24 all-time in their first dual of the season and 11-22 when that dual takes place on the road.
›› Eastern is now 15-32 all-time in its first road dual of the season.
›› The Eagles are 0-8 in their all-time series with Northwestern after playing the Wildcats for the first time in just over 20 years (Jan. 17, 2004).
›› Eastern is now 167-94 all-time when a dual ends in one team being swept and 65-68 when the match is played on the road.
 
Up Next
A trio of home duals await the Eagles next week when they welcome Hillsdale College and Ferris State University to campus. First, the Eagles and Chargers will meet Saturday, Jan. 27, inside the Chippewa Club for a 1 p.m. dual. Then, EMU will take on the Bulldogs in a doubleheader Sunday, Jan. 28, with start times scheduled for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Chippewa Club. Admission is free for both days.
 
Follow Along
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.
 
Northwestern 7, Eastern Michigan 0
Jan. 20 • Combe Tennis Center • Evanston, Ill.
SINGLES
#1: Maria Shusharina (N) def. Daniella Shved, 6-2, 6-1
#2: Justine Leong (N) def. Prerna Vichare, 6-1, 6-3
#3: #105 Christina Hand (N) def. Andrea Quiroz, 6-3, 6-2
#4: Britany Lau (N) def. Ksyusha Saenko, 6-2, 6-1
#5: Sydney Pratt (N) def. Linda Eloundou, 6-2, 6-3
#6: Neena Feldman (N) def. Sabina Brichackova, 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 4,1,5,6,2,3
 
DOUBLES
#1: Justine Leong/Elisa Van Meeteren (N) def. Sabina Brichackova/Ksyusha Saenko (E)
#2: Neena Feldman/Christina Hand (N) def. Linda Eloundou/Prerna Vichare (E)
#3: Andrea Quiroz/Daniella Shved (E) vs. Britany Lau/Maria Shusharina (N), 4-4 unfiinished
Order of finish: 1,2