Carolina Continues Undefeated Streak With Wins Over Rutgers, William & Mary
Feb. 19, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina gymnastics team swept every event and totaled a season-high 195.85 to defeat Rutgers (192.10) and William & Mary (191.15) at Carmichael Auditorium Saturday. Senior Olivia Trusty won the individual title on every event and tallied a team season-high all-around score of 39.425. Carolina improved its record to 13-0, the best start to a season in school history. The win over East Atlantic Gymnastics League opponent Rutgers lifted the team to a 5-0 record in conference matchups. For the first time since the 2004 NCAA Southeast Regional in April, the team did not count a single fall in its score - an improvement from the Tar Heels' last meet where they gave up two points on four falls. "The level of execution on bars and beam was a significant improvement from our last meet," said head coach Derek Galvin. "It is certainly nice to outscore opposing teams, but the important thing for us is to improve our execution." Trusty tied her season-high uneven bars score of 9.90 and was joined by senior Elisabeth Alsop, who notched a career-high 9.90, trouncing her previous record of 9.825 she recorded at the Tar Heels' last meet on Feb. 5. The pair led the team to a season-high 49.275 on the event. Junior Mikel Hester followed in third place, matching a personal best 9.85, and sophomore Christine Robella tied Hester's score. Robella's performance on bars was her best in a season where she has been plagued by a stomach injury. The Tar Heels also set a season-high score on floor exercise with a 49.125, the third Carolina event score to reach a mark of at least 49.0. The team earned an even 49 on vault in its opening event. Trusty set a new team-high score for the season on floor with a 9.875. Freshman Alice Xu tied Trusty for first place on balance beam for her second event win in her short career.
All four of Carolina's all-arounders finished in the top spots, and the Tar Heels swept at least the top three individual places on every event. No gymnast whose score counted in the team's total finished below the top ten. "I think it takes about six weeks after Christmas break to get to the level of execution we want to be at," said Galvin, "and it's been about that long. We're on track, and that's exactly where we want to be right now." The Tar Heels will next compete at the Wolfpack Invitational at NC State Friday at 7 p.m. before returning home to host their last 2005 home meet at Carmichael Auditorium on Sun., Feb. 27, against NC State. That meet will begin at 2 p.m. Team Scores: Carolina's Scores Bars (49.275, 1st) Beam (48.45, 1st) Floor (49.125, 1st) All-Around |
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