URBANA, Ill. --- North Carolina senior Gina Suarez-Malaguti saw her All-America season come to an end in the national quarterfinals Saturday with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 loss to Texas' Breaunna Addision at the Atkins Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Illinois. Suarez-Malaguti finishes the 2012-13 campaign with a record of 29-9 and just the fourth run to the NCAA quarters in school history.
The Pembroke Pines, Fla., senior rallied to take the opening set after trailing 5-3. With Addison serving for the set, Suarez-Malaguti broke to start a run of four straight games and eventually took the set, 7-5.
But the Longhorn freshman responded with a 6-1 second-set win to set up a third and deciding frame. Addison raced out to a 3-1 lead before Suarez-Malaguti got back on serve and briefly led, 4-3. Addison would take the final three games, however, and the match to advance to Sunday's semifinals.
Despite the loss, Suarez-Malaguti compiled one of the most successful seasons in program history as a senior. The 2013 ACC Player of the Year earned All-America honors and led Carolina to an ACC regular season title as well as the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. She became one of just four Tar Heel players to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA singles tournament and defeated 17 ranked opponents on the year.
