YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - In a significant announcement on December 10th, Ryan Kucera, the head coach of the Eastern Michigan University tennis program, revealed the signing of two talented players, Kenzy Elhamrawy and Sabrina Tolstova, to Athletic Financial Aid Agreements. These young athletes are set to embark on their academic and athletic careers with the Eagles, joining the program ahead of the 2025 fall season. Coach Kucera expressed his excitement, stating, "I am thrilled to have Kenzy and Sabrina join the Eagle tennis family next fall. Both are accomplished players, both nationally and internationally, and are proven winners with a passion for tennis and growing their games. They have represented their respective countries with pride and understand the importance of playing for a team. Most importantly, we are getting high-character, hardworking young women. They will fit in perfectly with the special group we have here on and off the court. I can't wait for them to don the Green and White!"

Kenzy Elhamrawy - A Rising Star

Elhamrawy (Alexandria, Egypt/Girard) has been a prominent figure within the Egyptian National Team program since her early days as a U11 player. She has achieved a remarkable 9.0 in the UTR (Universal Tennis Ranking), showcasing her exceptional skills on the court. Coach Kucera praised her positive attitude and excitement, saying, "Kenzy's positive attitude and excitement is inspiring. On the court, she has a powerful forehand that serves as a true weapon. Combined with her excellent touch and racket skills, she has been consistently successful on both the singles and doubles courts at a high level. I am excited to see her success continue as an Eagle!"Elhamrawy's achievements are truly remarkable. She qualified for the prestigious Billie Jean Cup U16 Tournament and finished in 11th place, marking the highest finish ever for an Egyptian U16 player. She also won the U16 singles and doubles titles at the Masr Al Ahleya Tournament, the largest tournament in Egypt. Her rise in the Egyptian junior rankings is evident as she reached as high as No. 2. Additionally, she placed third in the J200 African Closed Championships and reached the finals once and the semifinals four times in ITF singles events. She was also a four-time finalist in ITF doubles events.

Kenzy's journey to Eastern Michigan University is a testament to her dedication and talent. She is a physiotherapy major and is ready to bring her skills and passion to the Eagles' tennis program.

Sabrina Tolstova - A Versatile Talent

Tolstova (Odesa, Ukraine/Tenerife Tennis Academy (Canary Islands)) is a native of Ukraine and a former member of its U14 national team. In March 2022, she relocated to the Tenerife Tennis Academy in the Canary Islands and has quickly made her mark. She currently rates 9.23 in the UTR and holds a No. 414 ranking in the ITF.Coach Kucera described her as having a wonderful presence and maturity. He added, "Sabrina has a wonderful presence and maturity about her. She pairs that with a relentless aggressive game. She possesses all the necessary skills to put opponents under pressure and knows how to win on the big stages. I am excited to see her continue that and further develop that game here at Eastern!"Tolstova's achievements are equally impressive. She was the No. 1 ranked player in Ukraine in the U14 division and was named the team captain of Ukraine's Junior National U14 Team. In Spain, she climbed as high as No. 4 in the U16 rankings and No. 33 overall, making her the highest ranked player from the Canary Islands. She is a three-time ITF junior tournament singles champion, having won at the J30 level once and twice at the J60 level. She also reached the semifinals of three ITF junior doubles tournaments. Additionally, she won the qualifier at the Mutua Madrid U16 event and played against professionals in the Mutua Madrid Masters. She is the Tenerife and Canary Islands U16 and U18 champion and led her team to the quarterfinals of the Spanish U16 Championships for the first time ever.

Sabrina is undecided on her major but has a clear goal of becoming a company general manager one day. Her determination and talent make her a valuable addition to the Eastern Michigan University tennis team.

The current members of the program are currently in finals week before enjoying the holiday break. When they return, several individuals will head to Ann Arbor to compete in the 2025 Michigan Invitational on January 10th. The team will kick off its first two dual matches of the spring season on January 18th, with Ferris State University coming to town for a doubleheader. The Eagles and Bulldogs will play their first match at 3 p.m., followed by the second match at 7 p.m. inside the Chippewa Club.Stay up-to-date with EMU tennis by following the team on its social media channels. The team can be found on Instagram (@emu_tennis), X (@EMUEaglesTennis), and Facebook (EMUTennis).