Gymnastics Starts ACC Action Against NC State In Top-25 Meet

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Atlantic Coast Conference action officially gets underway this weekend as the 23rd-ranked North Carolina gymnastics team hosts No. 22 NC State on Friday, Jan. 24, for a top-25 in-state rivalry showdown.

Introductions begin at 6:45 p.m. ET inside Carmichael Arena. The meet will air on ACCNX with Matt Krause and Sydney Snead on call. Tickets can be purchased here.

Meet Info
Who: (23) Carolina vs. (22) NC State
What: ACC opener, Blue Out, Carolina Fever
Where: Chapel Hill, N.C. – Carmichael Arena
When: Friday, Jan. 24 – 6:45 p.m. ET
Links: Live Stream | Live Scores

Ten Things To Know

North Carolina is ranked No. 23 this week, up three spots from Week 2 and 10 spots better than the preseason poll. Last year after Week 3, UNC was ranked No. 45.
UNC's average beam rotation of 49.05 is ranked 13th nationally and third in the ACC. The team's 49.25 in the season opener was higher than any of their beam rotations during the 2024 season.
In their last outing, the Tar Heels saw season-high scores of 49.0 on bars and 49.15 on floor, as well as a season's best team score of 195.800.
Lali Dekanoidze won bars against George Washington last weekend in 9.9. That was her 30th career routine of 9.9+ and her 18th on bars. It was also the 17th individual event victory on bars in her career.
Dekanoidze's average bars score of 9.875 currently ranks second in the ACC, third in the Southeast region and 23rd in the nation. She's the highest nationally-ranked Tar Heel so far this season.
Dekanoidze and Julia Knower were named to the ACC Preseason Watch List for the second straight year. Freshman JoJo Valahovic was tabbed to the ACC Newcomer Watch List.
North Carolina's last dual meet win over NC State was on Jan. 9, 2023, in Chapel Hill. UNC set a program record for a home opener with a 196.225 in that meet.
The Tar Heels were picked to finish fifth in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll. The team received one first-place vote. NC State checked in at third.
Carolina scored a 195.225 in its season opener at Alabama on Jan. 10. That set a new program record for season-opening road score, surpassing the 195.2 done at New Hampshire on Jan. 22, 2021.
UNC tied for third at the inaugural ACC Championships in 2024. NC State won.

NC State is the defending ACC champion. Nationally, the Wolfpack rank 19th on vault, 22nd on floor, 25th on bars and 28th on beam. They had a season-high 195.925 in last week's loss at Stanford.

Stay up to date with Carolina Gymnastics by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lali Dekanoidze

Julia Knower

JoJo Valahovic