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MITCHELL FRANK: THE WARRIOR Mitchell Frank remembers the things that were being said about the Virginia tennis program prior to his arrival in 2012. At the time, UVa had enjoyed great regular- season and indoor success, but couldn't get over the hump and win an NCAA title. "Everyone always talked like, 'They're so close — they just find ways to lose,'" Frank recalled. "You heard it all the time. That's what people were saying … everyone thought there was a curse or something that somebody had put on us." Four years later, nobody's talking like that any- more. That's something Frank has had a lot to do with. In 2013, the Annandale, Va., native beat UCLA's Adrian Puget in the decisive match to give Vir- ginia its first-ever men's tennis national title. This season, Frank beat Oklahoma's Andrew Harris to clinch UVa's second. "This one feels great," Frank said. "It's really spe- cial to be around such great people. "It didn't hit me quite as hard as the other one did, but it's a great feeling either way." A day after Virginia's victory, Frank was named the recipient of the ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsman- ship Award during the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's awards ceremony. The award is given to the Division I men's player who displays sportsmanship, character and excellent academics, and has had outstanding tennis playing accomplishments. "Mitchell and I have been together four years — I can't tell you how much I'm going to miss this guy," said Virginia head coach Brian Boland. "I said it the last time we won the national championship that if there was one player I'd love to have on the court in the end of a match, it's Mitchell Frank. He's a warrior. He loves the game. He puts his heart and soul in every day. "To his credit, he really put the team above himself this year and was extremely unselfish in his approach. I think he learned a lot, and it's been an unbelievable journey. We're going to miss him." Frank, who plans to give it a go on the pro tour, said he had the perfect ending. "It's the top of the world to win another NCAA title and go out on top," he said. "Putting in all the work with such a special bunch of guys is something I'll never forget, and I'll be able to have these memories for as long as I live." — Whitelaw Reid In each of Virginia's two national championships over the last three years, Frank has won the clinch- ing match in the final to secure the title for the Cavaliers. PHOT BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA