University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NCAA Columbia Regional
Tar Heels Finish Sixth At NCAA Regionals
April 10, 2010 | Women's Gymnastics
April 10, 2010
Columbia, Mo. -
Despite a solid performance Saturday night, the 2010 season came to an end for the No. 36 University of North Carolina gymnastics team at NCAA Regionals. In their ninth-consecutive NCAA Regional appearance the Tar Heels placed sixth in the six-team field with a 194.750. Host No. 15 Missouri took first to advance to the NCAA Championships. No. 5 Georgia and No. 8 Oregon State both scored a 196.275, but Oregon State advanced to the championship on a tiebreaker.
"It was our third-highest team score, but we weren't quite as sharp as at the EAGL Championship," said head coach Derek Galvin. "We came in seeded sixth and we thought we could sneak in front of a few teams, but Iowa and Minnesota had big meets. It was a very competitive meet. Every team did well."
Carolina began the meet on uneven bars by going six-for-six and scored a 48.475. Senior Christine Nguyen was the Tar Heels top performer on bars, scoring a 9.750 and finishing in a tie for 19th place. Senior Kara Wright tied for 22nd with a 9.725 and Zoya Johnson posted a 9.700 to tie for 28th. Freshman Elizabeth Durkac and sophomore Morgan Evans both scored a 9.650 to tie for 33rd place and Junior Krista Jasper posted a 9.625 for 36th place.
Senior Tina Jacob and Evans led the Tar Heels to a 48.500 on balance beam. Jacob and Evans tied for 16th place after each recorded a 9.750 and Wright placed 24th with a 9.700. Jasper and freshman Maura Masatsugu both scored a 9.650 for 33rd place. Nguyen scored a 9.225 for 37th place.
"Tina Jacob did one of her best routines of the year and stuck her landing," Galvin said. "That was one of the highlights."
After a bye the Tar Heels moved to floor exercise and recorded a 48.900, their highest event score of the night. Nguyen finished in an eight-way tie for fourth place with a 9.850 and Evans performance earned a 9.800 for 17th place. Wright, freshman Michelle Ikoma and junior Karli Jones tied for 23rd place with 9.750. Sophomore Taylor Brown took 36th place with a 9.650.
Carolina finished the season on vault and scored a 48.875. Performing in their last collegiate event, seniors Wright and Nguyen both had top-10 performances. Wright led the Tar Heels with a 9.850 and finished in a tie for sixth place. Nguyen tied for 10th with a 9.825 and Evans scored a 9.775 for 16th place. Johnson placed 21st with a 9.750 and Jones scored a 9.675 for 33rd. Ikoma posted a 9.650 for 35th place.
"Both of our seniors did well on the event. Kara stuck her vault and Christine did a nice vault as well. It was stronger than her vault at EAGL," Galvin said.
Wright finished ninth in all-around competition with a 39.025 and Evans took 11th with a 38.975. Nguyen scored a 38.650 for 14th place.
"One of the things I'm pleased with is that we didn't count a fall," Galvin said. "And each of the seniors had a good meet."
Missouri scored a 196.500 for the team victory while Georgia and Oregon State both scored 196.275 to tie for second. Because Oregon State's total was higher when all six scores were counted on each event, they advanced to the NCAA Championships. No. 25 Minnesota scored a 195.000 for fourth and No. 30 Iowa finished fifth with a 194.900.
"Penny and I are pleased with how the team performed. They kept their enthusiasm high. It is bittersweet for the seniors. They did well, but none of us wanted it to end," Galvin said. "I told the team that they can be proud of the way they competed and they are EAGL champions and that is an accomplishment."
Players Mentioned
