University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Head to Lindsey Ferris Invitational
January 14, 2016 | Women's Gymnastics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina returns to action on Sunday, Jan. 17 in Washington D.C. for the Lindsey Ferris Invitational. The Tar Heels will face off against one East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) opponent, George Washington, and three non-conference opponents, Cornell, Pennsylvania and Temple. The meet is set to begin at 1 p.m. in the Charles E. Smith Center.
This past Sunday, the Tar Heels opened the 2016 season with a victory, defeating William & Mary, 192.400-189.050 in Carmichael Arena. UNC hopes to carry this momentum into this weekend's competition.
“We were pleased with the way we started out the [season],” said head coach Derek Galvin. “We set some goals and objectives for this meet and, for the most part, we accomplished those.”
Throughout the meet, several Tar Heels notched career-best performances.
Christina Pheil, who missed most of last season due to injury, posted career bests on the uneven bars (9.575), balance beam (9.475) and all-around (37.500).
Kaitlynn Hedelund posted a career-best score of 39.150 in the all-around competition, taking first place. Hedelund also had a career-best of 9.850 on the floor exercise.
Madison Nettles, a sophomore transfer from Texas Women's University, notched a career-high score of 9.725 on the vault in her first competition as a Tar Heel.
Morgan Lane had a career-best of 9.875 on the floor exercise. Lane took second place in the all-around competition with a score of 39.050.
This weekend's opponents:
-In the team's season opener, No. 7 George Washington won the Little Boston Invitational over EAGL rival, New Hampshire, and Rutgers on Saturday, Jan. 9. The Colonials notched a total score of 196.175. Jillian Winstanley won individual titles on both the vault (9.925) and the all-around (39.350) to carry the Colonials to victory.
-On Sunday, Jan. 10, Temple fell to Kent State, 195.150-188.450 in the team's second competition of the 2016 season. Sahara Gipson led the Owls with a season-best score of 38.325 in the all-around, earning first place.
-Cornell and Pennsylvania will kick off its 2016 season at the Lindsey Ferris Invitational on Sunday, Jan. 17.
“This week we have some people that we are trying to get back on some additional events,” said Galvin. “We are getting a little bit healthier.”
Galvin continued, “We look forward to competing at the Lindsey Ferris Invitational. It's always an exciting competition. Each year, it's a good opportunity to compete with a lot going on around us. We'll be working on focusing and keeping our tunnel vision.”
Following Sunday's competition, the Tar Heels will be back in action on Sunday, Jan. 24. The Tar Heels will travel to Towson, Md. to take on the Towson Tigers. The meet is set to begin at 2 p.m. in the SECU Arena.
Players Mentioned
