WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. --- No. 1 North Carolina begins its pursuit of the 2013 Atlantic Coast Conference title Wednesday when the Tar Heels visit Wake Forest at 3 p.m. at the Wake Forest Tennis Center in the league opener for both teams. UNC is 9-1 on the year following its first dual match loss of the season last Monday vs. No. 2 Florida. Wake Forest has struggled to a 1-6 start but the Demon Deacons have won at least two matches in every dual this spring.
For the third consecutive poll, the Tar Heels feature seven ranked singles players, led by Gina Suarez-Malaguti's career-best ranking of No. 4. The Pembroke Pines, Fla., senior is 15-5 overall and 4-2 in duals, with wins over six ranked opponents.
ITA National Team Indoor Championships MVP Whitney Kay is up to a season-high of No. 19 after starting the spring 6-0 in duals. Despite an injury-plagued fall, sophomore Caroline Price has been outstanding in dual match play, posting a team-best 8-0 mark to rise to No. 25 in the country.
Zoe De Bruycker (No. 32), Tessa Lyons (No. 93), Ashley Dai (No. 101) and Lauren McHale (No. 123) round out the ranked Tar Heels. Dai and Kay are the lone UNC tandem in the doubles rankings, checking in at No. 22.
Live scoring for Wednesday's match in Winston-Salem will be available at WakeForestSports.com.
