SC State's Bankou and NCCU's Hidalgo Vega Earn MEAC Tennis Player of the Year Honors

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference has recognized two outstanding senior athletes as the 2026 MEAC Tennis Players of the Year, honoring excellence from both South Carolina State University and North Carolina Central University.

Mikalai Bankou of South Carolina State captured the Men's Tennis Player of the Year award, while Alejandra Hidalgo Vega of North Carolina Central earned Women's Tennis Player of the Year honors. The awards were announced on April 22, 2026, from the conference headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.

The selections were determined through voting by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors, recognizing the athletes who demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the season.

For South Carolina State, Bankou's recognition adds to the Bulldogs' legacy of tennis excellence within the MEAC. His selection as Player of the Year marks a significant achievement for the program and caps what has clearly been an outstanding senior campaign.

Meanwhile, North Carolina Central's Hidalgo Vega joins the elite company of MEAC Women's Tennis Players of the Year, bringing distinction to the Eagles' tennis program. Her senior season performance evidently stood out among the conference's women's tennis competitors, earning her the votes needed to claim the prestigious honor.

The MEAC continues to showcase the depth of athletic talent across its member institutions, with tennis representing one of the conference's championship sports. These individual awards highlight not only the achievements of Bankou and Hidalgo Vega but also the competitive nature of MEAC tennis and the quality of athletes competing at HBCU institutions.

As both honorees complete their collegiate careers, they leave their respective programs with the highest individual accolade available in conference play, setting a standard for future Bulldogs and Eagles tennis student-athletes to pursue.

Originally reported by MEAC Sports.