Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – In its final road meet of the regular season, No. 24 North Carolina gymnastics wrapped up a quad meet with No. 14 Alabama, No. 6 Cal and No. 8 Michigan State at Elevate the Stage in Huntsville, Ala., on Sunday evening.
The Tar Heels finished with a final score of 195.625 inside Propst Arena. The Golden Bears won the meet in 197.200 followed closely by the Spartans' 197.150. The Crimson Tide took third in 196.875.
All-Around Competing in the all-around for the 48th time in her career, Julia Knower finished with a 39.15 after scores of 9.8 on vault, 9.75 on bars, 9.775 on beam and 9.825 on floor. It was the senior's seventh straight all-around score of 39.0 or higher this season, and her 9.8 on vault tied her season high for the third time.
Rotation One – Floor (48.85) Jessica Naranjo kicked things off with a 9.8 on floor. Claire Stippich's mark of 9.75 in the second spot counted and back-to-back 9.725s were produced from JoJo Valahovic and Kaya Forbes in the respective third and fourth positions. Knower notched a team-high 9.825 and Bella Miller anchored with a 9.725.
1. Jessica Naranjo – 9.8 2. Claire Stippich – 9.75 3. JoJo Valahovic – 9.725 4. Kaya Forbes – 9.725 5. Julia Knower – 9.825 6. Bella Miller – 9.725
Carolina totaled 48.85 during its opening rotation. Cal topped floor with a 49.425 followed by Michigan State (49.325) and Alabama (49.025).
Rotation Two – Vault (48.95) Rejoining the vault lineup for the first time since January was Elly King who went second and matched her career-high 9.75 for the third time this year. Knower was third and tied her season-high 9.8 for the third time. Lali Dekanoidze received a 9.75 in the fourth spot followed by Valahovic's team-leading 9.875 from the fifth slot. Forbes anchored with a 9.775.
1. Neve King – 9.725 2. Elly King – 9.75 3. Julia Knower 4. Lali Dekanoidze – 9.75 5. JoJo Valahovic – 9.875 6. Kaya Forbes – 9.775
UNC had a cumulative score of 48.95 on vault. That was behind MSU's 49.325, UA's 49.275 and Cal's 49.0.
Rotation Three – Bars (49.025) Knower began UNC's bar rotation with a 9.75. Stippich put forth a solid 9.825 going third in the lineup while Gwen Fink's 9.725 in spot No. 4 also counted. Isabelle Schaefer added another 9.825 from the fifth slot and Dekanoidze capped off bars with a team-leading 9.9. Dekanoidze was one of four athletes at the meet who earned a 9.9+.
1. Julia Knower – 9.75 2. Neve King – 9.7 3. Claire Stippich – 9.825 4. Gwen Fink – 9.725 5. Isabelle Schaefer – 9.825 6. Lali Dekanoidze – 9.9
The Tar Heels' lone rotation of 49.0+ was on bars with a 49.025. That was just behind the Spartans' 49.075 and the Crimson Tide's 49.1. The Golden Bears totaled 49.375.
Rotation Four – Beam (48.8) Valahovic, who went second, posted the first score that counted on UNC's fourth and final rotation with a team-best 9.85. Also scoring for the Tar Heels on beam were N. King (9.75), Knower (9.775), Fink (9.7) and Regan McBride (9.725) to round out the lineup.
1. Jessica Naranjo – 9.55 2. JoJo Valahovic – 9.85 3. Neve King – 9.75 4. Julia Knower – 9.775 5. Gwen Fink – 9.7 6. Regan McBride – 9.725
Carolina scored 48.800 to cap off the meet. Alabama ended with 49.475, just above Michigan State's 49.425 and Cal's 49.4.
Up Next The 24th-ranked Tar Heels return to Chapel Hill for the regular season finale on Friday, March 14, inside Carmichael Arena. Carolina will host Western Michigan starting at 6:45 p.m. ET and action will air on ACCNX.
Tickets are available for purchase here. Senior Day presented by Carolina Alumni will take place after the meet.
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