Tar Heels Travel To Kentucky For Friday Night Showdown

Friday, January 17

Lexington, KY

7 p.m.

North Carolina

Kentucky

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

January 16, 2020 | Women's Gymnastics

By: Megan Dennehy

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina women's gymnastics looks to add another win this weekend as they travel to the University of Kentucky for a quad meet with NC State and Lindenwood. The meet will take place in Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky. on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.

"We are very excited to be traveling to the University of Kentucky," said Coach Derek Galvin. "Last year they were a top ten team. They have a talented team, and they're well-coached."

The Tar Heels hope to keep momentum after defeating William & Mary last weekend 194.775 - 190.425 in their home opener in Carmichael Arena. The meet served as a Mental Health Awareness Day and over 2,000 fans came out to show their support for the teams.

LAST WEEK

North Carolina women's gymnastics earned their first win of the season after a dominant performance over William & Mary. The Tar Heels earned first place finishes in all 5 competitions and nine top-three individual event finishes.

Senior Khazia Hislop and freshman Elizabeth Culton had successful showings as they took home first place on all events between them. Hislop won the vault (9.900), beam (9.825), and floor (9.850) and Culton won the bars (9.850) and all-around competition (39.050) to kick off the season.

Hislop and Culton were both awarded EAGL honors for the first week, as well. Hislop was named Specialist of the Week and Culton was named Rookie of the Week for Week One.

"Last week was a really good start. What I enjoyed most about last week was the energy level and the enthusiasm of our team," said Galvin. "Seeing them competing together, and the energy that they brought to the competition. The execution of the routines was good and we know that we will continue to get stronger and improve the quality of the routines as the season progresses."

The Tar Heels opened the meet on vault where they put up their most successful performances of the night, scoring 48.925. Hislop earned first with 9.900 and Mikayla Robinson took second with a score of 9.800.

Carolina totaled a score of 48.550 during their second rotation on the uneven bars. Culton put up the highest score in this event during her collegiate debut with a 9.850 and Drew Aldrige and Grace Donaghy.

The Tar Heels scored 48.425 on beam with Hislop winning the even with a 9.825. Senior Alexis Allen, Culton, and Donaghy all scored a 9.675 to finish tied for third place, as well.

On their final rotation, the Tar Heels closed the meet with a score of 48.875 on the floor. Hislop scored a 9.850 to maintain her average of a 9.850 over a span of 20+ consecutive meets. Robinson and Culton each scored a 9.800 to tie for second, and senior Jamie Antinori was close behind with a fourth-place finish and score of 9.725.

THE OPPONENTS

No. 11 Kentucky is hosting a quad meet with North Carolina, NC State, and Lindenwood. Kentucky comes into the meet with a record of 1-1 (1-0 SEC) after falling to Utah and defeating Missouri.

"The Southeast Conference is regarded as one of the strongest conferences in collegiate gymnastics," Galvin said. "It's always good to compete against the stronger teams. We want to be competing against those top 10 teams and we're doing it early this season with the competition at Kentucky."

Competition between North Carolina and fellow EAGL member NC State is always fierce, and the two teams are set to meet a total of three times throughout the 2020 season. NC State took on Ohio State in the first week of competition and fell in the close match-up, 193.800-194.025.

"Our two schools are closely matched," said Galvin. "I think it's going to be a good competition between NC State and Carolina. Again, a talented team and a well-coached team. We know that anytime we compete with NC State, whether it's in Raleigh, here in Chapel Hill, or a neutral site, it's going to be a close competition."

Lindenwood came in second last week in a tri-meet with the University of Illinois and Temple University to kick off their season. This new program proved themselves last year and will be interesting to watch in the match-up this weekend.

"They have risen quickly and done well," said Galvin. "They did very well last year. It's been exciting to watch their rise and see the beginning of that program several years ago. Their coaches are doing a great job and that program will continue to get stronger and stronger."