May 15, 2009

LUBBOCK, Texas - Texas Tech freshman men's tennis player Raony Carvalho was named the Rookie Player of the Year for the South Central region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Thursday.

Carvalho, a native of Brazil, went 14-9 in dual matches this spring primarily at the top singles position and has posted a 26-13 overall record this season. In doubles, he and teammate Christian Rojmar went 14-8 in duals and 20-12 overall. Carvalho is currently ranked No. 41 in singles, while he and Rojmar team for the nation's 15th-best duo.

Carvalho, along with Rojmar, will complete the 2008-09 season next weekend in College Station, Texas, in the singles and doubles portions of the NCAA Championships, held May 20-25 at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center on the campus of Texas A&M.