On April 3, 2026, the Eastern Michigan women’s tennis team took on the Ball State Cardinals at Bill Richards Tennis Courts in Muncie, Indiana. The matchup resulted in a 6-1 loss for the Eagles. The next stop for the Eagles will be Oxford, Ohio, to take on the Miami University (OH) RedHawks on April 12, 2026.
Doubles
Ball State set the tone early by securing the doubles point, winning at both the No. 1 and No. 3 positions. At No. 1 doubles, the Eagles’ duo of Matilde Parreira and Sabrina Tolstova fell 6-2 to Ball State’s Sarah Shahbaz and Isabelle Tanjuatco. The Cardinals maintained control throughout the match, limiting opportunities for Eastern Michigan to build momentum.
The No. 3 doubles match saw a similar outcome, as Lara Diaz Zayas and Regina Mendez Carreño dropped a 6-1 decision. With the two victories, Ball State quickly clinched the doubles point and took an early 1-0 lead.
The No. 2 doubles match, featuring Iva Daneva and Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya, was left unfinished. Despite showing some competitiveness, the Eagles were unable to finish the job before the point was decided.
Singles
Ball State carried its momentum into singles play, winning five of six matches to secure the overall victory.
At the top of the lineup, Cylova Zuleyka Hukmasabiyya delivered the lone bright spot for the Eagles. Competing at No. 1 singles, she showed resilience after dropping the first set 6-4. Hukmasabiyya responded with a 6-3 win in the second set before closing out the match in a decisive third-set tiebreak. Her ability to regroup and finish strong earned Eastern Michigan its only point of the match. Her performance continues a trend of strong individual play, particularly in high-pressure situations, as she has now recorded multiple three-set victories in conference competition.
Outside of the top spot, however, Ball State dominated the remainder of singles play. At No. 2 singles, Priyanka Rana defeated Pehal Kharadkar in straight sets. Isabelle Tanjuatco followed with a win over Sabrina Tolstova at No. 3 singles, while Asia Fontana secured another point over Lara Diaz Zayas at No. 4. Ball State continued its run with victories at No. 5 and No. 6 singles, where Gabby Barrera and J. Williams-Phillips each earned straight-set wins over Matilde Parreira and Regina Mendez Carreño.
Across all matches, Eastern Michigan showed competitiveness, but the Cardinals consistently controlled the late sets. The inability to close out strongly played a role in Ball State securing the victory of the Eagles.
Successes
Competing at No. 1 singles, Hukmasabiyya showed resilience after dropping the opening set 6-4. She responded with a 6-3 win in the second set before closing out the match in a third-set tiebreak, securing the Eagles’ lone point of the afternoon.
Her performance continued a strong stretch in conference play. Hukmasabiyya has now won back-to-back three-set matches after losing the first set in each, highlighting her ability to adjust mid-match and compete under pressure.
She also improved to 5-1 in MAC singles play this season, solidifying her role as one of the most reliable players in Eastern Michigan’s lineup.
Looking ahead
Eastern Michigan will look to regroup as conference play continues. With multiple matches remaining on the schedule, the Eagles will aim to improve their positioning in the MAC standings as the Mid-American Conference tournament inches closer.
A stronger start in doubles and more consistency throughout the singles lineup will be key if the team hopes to bounce back in upcoming matches. The next match for the Eagles will be against the Miami University RedHawks in Oxford, Ohio, on April 12, 2026.
