SKILLMAN, N.J. — Senior Gina Suarez-Malaguti and sophomore Caroline Price earned ITA All-America honors for their singles play in 2012-13, the organization announced Thursday. Suarez-Malaguti earned automatic All-America status by virtue of her No. 7 seed in the NCAA singles tournament, while Price was honored after advancing to the NCAA singles round of 16.
Suarez-Malaguti put together one of the finest individual seasons in Carolina history as a senior. After a 14-4 fall saw her enter the first ITA singles poll of 2013 at No. 11, Suarez-Malaguti spent the remainder of the spring season in the top 10. The Pembroke Pines, Fla., standout finished with an overall singles record of 29-9 and became just the fourth Tar Heel in program history to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA singles tournament. She was also the first UNC player since 1993 to earn ACC Player of the Year honors after leading Carolina to a regular season league title.
Price had a breakout season as a sophomore despite an injury-plagued fall. The Duluth, Ga., native was an amazing 24-3 in the spring and proved to be one of the most consistent points in the country. Price won 19 consecutive matches to open the dual season, dropping just one set in the process. She then made a run to the round of 16 of the NCAA singles tournament, defeating No. 12 Julie Elbaba of Virginia to clinch All-America status.
Both players were also All-ACC picks for the first time in 2013, while Price was named to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship All-Tournament team after Carolina won that title in February.
