Carolina Wraps Home Dual Schedule Against NC State

Friday, January 17

Chapel Hill

Diving/4:30 p.m. • Swimming/6 p.m.

North Carolina

NC State

Emily Grund won both springboard events Friday.

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

January 17, 2020 | Swimming & Diving

Final Results

CHAPEL HILL --- Valdas Abaliksta, Emily Grund and Alex Hart were double winners for the North Carolina swimming and diving teams as the Tar Heels closed out the home dual meet schedule against NC State Friday at Koury Natatorium. Carolina dropped a pair of duals to the sixth-ranked Wolfpack, with the NCSU men winning 187.5-112.5 and the women taking a 182-118 victory.

"Overall, we had a nice meet," head coach Mark Gangloff said. "Sometimes you get punched in the teeth during meets like this because NC State is a really developed program...we got hit a couple of times today, which was new for us this season, but I think we responded really well."

"I think the makeup of a great team is being resilient, and I think we're developing the skill of resiliency right now in our program."

Coach @MarkGangloff on tonight's meet, the team's resilience and the impact of the senior class. #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/qMnu7ERfCi
— Carolina Swimming & Diving (@uncswimdive) January 18, 2020

Abaliksta continued his outstanding season with a pair of wins in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. The junior from Lithuania was joined by teammate Jacob Rauch for a 1-2 finish in the 100, and the pair went 1-3 in the 200.

Caroline Hauder, Bryanna Cameron and Ellie VanNote were also individual event winners on the women's side. Hauder touched the wall in 1:00.61 to win the 100 breaststroke, while Cameron and teammate Emma Cole went 1-2 in the 200 fly. VanNote out-touched NCSU's Sirena Rowe to win the 100 fly in 55.24.

Carolina finished the swimming competition on a high note in the 400 freestyle relay. The foursome of Grace Countie, Cole, Sophie Lindner and Hauder - led by a 48.25 anchor leg by Hauder - topped NCSU by 0.33, winning in 3:18.56.

The Tar Heel divers continued their strong season by sweeping all four events in the well. Grund was less than a point shy of her season best in the 1-meter springboard before also winning the 3-meter, with teammate Paige Burrell posting a second and third. Hart was also less than a point off a season high in the 3-meter before adding the 1-meter win.

"We're really excited for the outcome today again," head diving coach Yaidel Gamboa said. "A good day for the whole team on the women and men's side. We're just trying to take one week at a time looking toward the ACC Championships, and so far we continue to improve and that's exciting."

And hear from Coach Gamboa after the Tar Heels swept all four diving events! pic.twitter.com/hIK4ocCi2b
— Carolina Swimming & Diving (@uncswimdive) January 18, 2020