Four Cavaliers Receive ITA Men's Tennis Regional Awards

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ATHENS, Ga. – Four members of the Virginia men’s tennis team received ITA Atlantic Region awards, the organization announced this week. Three players and one coach were honored for a 2012 season that saw the Cavaliers (26-1) win their sixth consecutive ACC title and reach the NCAA Round of 16 for the ninth consecutive year.

Mitchell Frank (Annandale, Va.) became the third consecutive Cavalier to be named ITA Atlantic Region Rookie of the Year. The nation’s No. 2 ranked singles player, Frank became just the fourth player in history to win both the ITA All-American and ITA National Indoor singles titles in the same year. The ACC Freshman of the Year has posted a 31-1 overall singles record during his debut season.

Sophomore Justin Shane (Falls Church, Va.) was named the Atlantic Region Player to Watch, given to someone expected to be one of the top returning players in his region next season and is expected to contend for an ITA regional title. Shane has compiled as 31-5 overall record this season and is currently ranked No. 82 nationally.

Senior Drew Courtney (Clifton, Va.) is the region’s nominee for the ITA Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award. Courtney, a two-time doubles All-American and 2010 NCAA Doubles Champion, has posted a 20-4 singles record this season. Virginia has won the national Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award twice in the past five years, with Somdev Devvarman (2007) and Sanam Singh (2011) receiving the honor.

Associate Coach Andres Pedroso was named Atlantic Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Pedroso, in his second season at Virginia, won the award in the first year he was eligible.

All are now candidates for the ITA National Awards, announced in Athens on May 22 on the day of the NCAA Tournament men’s and women’s championship matches.

Virginia opens play in Athens on Friday with a NCAA Round of 16 match against 14th-seeded California. Match time at the Dan Magill Tennis Center is 4 p.m.