INDIANAPOLIS – Tennessee State men's tennis senior Taj Hibbert capped a standout season by earning Horizon League Player of the Year honors, the conference announced Thursday afternoon as part of the 2026 Horizon League postseason awards.

Hibbert becomes one of the most decorated players in recent program history, collecting the league's top individual honor after anchoring the Tigers at the No. 1 singles position throughout the season. The Sydney, Australia native posted a perfect 6-0 record against Horizon League opponents, consistently delivering pivotal victories for Tennessee State in conference play.

The award marks a major step forward from last season when Hibbert earned All-League First Team recognition, solidifying his rise into one of the conference's premier competitors during his senior campaign.

Throughout the year, Hibbert set the tone for the Tigers with elite consistency at the top of the lineup, combining aggressive baseline play with veteran leadership. His undefeated conference mark helped position Tennessee State as a competitive force within the Horizon League.

In addition to being named Player of the Year, Hibbert was again selected to the Horizon League All-League First Team, recognizing his dominance against the conference's top competition. League officials also highlighted Hibbert's sportsmanship and competitive character, noting praise from coaches who described him as a fierce competitor who maintains a high standard both on and off the court.

Tennessee State now turns its attention to postseason play at the 2026 Horizon League Tennis Championships, scheduled for April 24–26 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Tigers enter the tournament as the South Division's No. 2 seed and will face North Division No. 3 seed IU Indianapolis in a men's quarterfinal matchup Friday at 10 a.m. ET. A victory would advance Tennessee State to the semifinal round Saturday against either Tennessee Tech or Cleveland State, with championship matches set for Sunday and streamed live on ESPN+.

Fans can follow championship coverage and updates throughout the weekend by following @HorizonLeague on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook using the hashtags #OurHorizon and #HLTennis.