Horizon League Reveals 2026 #HLTennis All-League Awards

April 23

Sa'Mone Winters

INDIANAPOLIS (April 23, 2026) – The Horizon League revealed our 2026 #HLTennis All-League honorees and specialty award winners on Thursday, with the selections based on votes by the League’s head coaches.

Taj Hibbert of Tennessee State and Nel Van Hout of Milwaukee were named Players of the Year. IU Indy’s Owen Nguyen and Tennessee Tech’s Diego Munoz won Freshman of the Year along with Oakland’s Oliwia Klimas. Our Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award winners went to Carl Gedlitschka of Cleveland State, Emilio Bravo of Northern Kentucky and Jy Hibbert of Southern Indiana for the men and Honoka Yamashite of Milwaukee and Lydia Foster of Youngstown State for the women. Tennessee Tech’s Mark Klysner took home Coach of the Year honors for the men while Northern Kentucky’s Brian Nester and Oakland’s Dave Brown took home the award for the women.

Dig Deeper:

Hibbert wins Player of the Year honors in his senior finale after being selected as All-League First Team a season ago.
- The Sydney, Australia native went 6-0 against League opponents in the No. 1 singles slot.
Van Hout wins Player of the Year in her sophomore campaign and debut season in the Horizon League.
- She finished 6-0 in League play at No. 1 singles.
Nguyen and Munoz share the Freshman of the Year Award.
- Nguyen finishes with an in-League record of 3-3 singles while Munoz concludes the season on a 4-1 singles record.
Klimas maintained a perfect 5-0 singles record in League play this season for the Golden Grizzlies.
- The freshman from Poland gives Oakland a three peat Freshmen of the Year, with teammates Nisa Bulut and Emilia Jarvinen winning the awards previously.
The Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award is given in honor of former Wright State men’s and women’s tennis coach Herb Foster and recognizes student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. Sportsmanship is defined as behavior exhibited during competition by student-athletes based on values, respect and integrity.
- Gedlitschka was described by his head coach as a person “who can play with 100% intensity but still appreciates his opponent's effort after the match, win or lose.”
- Bravo earn the award amidst his senior season.
- Hibbert’s coach praised him for being a “great competitor on the court and holds himself to a high standard off the court.”
- Yamashite’s head coach noted how she “always has a good attitude, win or lose.”
- Foster’s coach shares how she has “built a reputation as a fair, respectful, and highly likable competitor—someone who approaches every match with integrity and composure.”
Klysner earns Coach of the Year honors after leading his program to a perfect 6-0 record in League Play.
Nester and Brown were named #HLTennis Co-Coaches of the Year after guiding their teams to appearances in the Horizon League Championship.
The 2026 Horizon League Tennis Championships will take place at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Quarterfinal matches begin on Friday, April 24 and conclude on Sunday, April 26 with championship matches streamed on ESPN+.
- Fans can also follow the action on social media by following @HorizonLeague and #OurHorizon.
- For complete championship information, visit #HLTennis Championship Central.

2026 Horizon League Men’s Tennis Award Winners

Player of the Year
Taj Hibbert, Tennessee State

Freshman of the Year
Owen Nguyen, IU Indy
Diego Munoz, Tennessee Tech

Herb Foster Sportsmanship Awards
Carl Gedlitschka, Cleveland State
Emilio Bravo, Northern Kentucky
Jy Hibbert, Southern Indiana

Coach of the Year
Mark Klysner, Tennessee Tech

All-League First Team
Sabi Roi, Belmont
Lincoln Battle, Cleveland State
Taj Hibbert, Tennessee State
Alex Alvarez, Tennessee Tech
Alexis Maulouet, Youngstown State
Dominik Vonbank, Youngstown State

All-League Second Team
Carl Gedlitschka, Cleveland State
Konner Gunwall, IU Indy
Owen Nguyen, IU Indy
Emilio Bravo, Northern Kentucky
Davids Spaks, Tennessee Tech
Rafael Le Fur, Youngstown State

Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Will Ecklund, Belmont
Carl Gedlitschka, Cleveland State*
Eli Mercer, IU Indy
Emilio Bravo, Northern Kentucky*
Jy Hibbert, Southern Indiana*
Taj Hibbert, Tennessee State
Malo Vernejoul, Youngstown State

2026 Horizon League Women’s Tennis Awards

Player of the Year
Nel Van Hout, Milwaukee

Freshman of the Year
Oliwia Klimas, Oakland

Herb Foster Sportsmanship Awards
Honoka Yamashita, Milwaukee*
Lydia Foster, Youngstown State*

Coach of the Year
Brian Nester, Northern Kentucky
Dave Brown, Oakland

All-League First Team
Ella Franz, Cleveland State
Kally Kadzinski, IU Indy
Nel Van Hout, Milwaukee
Nadiia Konieva, Milwaukee
Oliwia Klimas, Oakland
Hanna Telzynska, Youngstown State

All-League Second Team
Anna Mancino, Cleveland State
Sydney Zakic, Northern Kentucky
Martyna Piechowicz, Oakland
Edie Hammond, Oakland
Lorena Cedeno, Youngstown State
Yeseniia Ovcharova, Youngstown State

Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award Finalists
Laura Tapia, Cleveland State
Calli Sokolowski, IU Indy
Honoka Yamashita, Milwaukee*
Haley Slay, Northern Kentucky
Emilia Jarvinen, Oakland
Lydia Foster, Youngstown State*