DURHAM, N.C. – For the first time in the Division I era, North Carolina Central women's tennis has a conference player of the year. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced its postseason tennis awards on Wednesday evening and NCCU senior Alejandra Hidalgo Vega was named the 2026 MEAC Women's Tennis Player of the Year.

Joining the senior in accolades was sophomore Mariana Zottoli and freshman Sara Barbaric, who were both named to the All-MEAC Second Team. Hidalgo Vega was named to the All-MEAC First Team.

Hidalgo Vega completes a career sweep, as she has been named to the MEAC First Team every season since her freshman year in 2023. The Madrid, Spain native was also named the MEAC Rookie of the Year in 2023, joining Aissa Muamba (2013) as the only Eagles to receive that honor.

Throughout her time at NCCU, Hidalgo Vega has dominated No. 1 singles. Her older brother Hugo won the MEAC Men's Tennis Player of the Year award at NC Central in 2024 as there are now two conference award winners in the family.

NCCU went 9-9 overall during the regular season and 4-2 in conference action led by Hidalgo Vega's 6-0 singles record and 5-0 doubles record against MEAC opponents. The senior went 10-8 in singles overall.

Zottoli and Barbaric earned their first MEAC honors as Eagles. Zottoli had a 9-8 record in singles, going 4-2 in conference. Some of her non-conference victories include Wofford, George Mason and Presbyterian.

In her debut year, Barbaric earned multiple MEAC Rookie of the Week honors, finishing the regular season 8-5 overall and 4-1 in the MEAC in singles. Some of her freshman highlights include victories over UNC Asheville, Howard, Norfolk State and Presbyterian.  

NC Central now turns its attention to the 2026 MEAC Tennis Championships on April 23-25 at Cary Tennis Park. The Eagles have earned the No. 4 seed and face No. 5 Delaware State on Thursday, April 23 at 8 a.m.

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