The North Carolina gymnastics team finished second in Pittsburgh Friday night, but yet again an underwhelming performance in a single event held the Tar Heels back.
The Tar Heels (5-3) beat out East Atlantic Gymnastics League opponent Pittsburgh (5-4) with a score of 194.050, but suffered a close loss to Temple (7-6), who finished with a 194.200 score. The story of the meet for UNC came on the uneven bars.
North Carolina had a team score of 47.350, which put them in third place after the first rotation.
“We did not perform up to the level that we are capable of on that event,” head coach Derek Galvin said. “Our team performance tonight did not reflect the way the team has been training.”
Despite the subpar performance on bars, the Tar Heels rebounded with high team scores in the vault, balance beam and floor routine.
“The coaching staff and the team are pleased with the way they came back on the next three events,” Galvin said.
The balance beam, which hindered the team in a close loss to EAGL rival N.C. State last week, was particularly strong for the Tar Heels. UNC had a team score of 48.800 in the rotation, improving from their 47.700 result last week.
Junior Khazia Hislop particularly shined for the Tar Heels on the balance beam. She scored a 9.925 in the event, tied for her personal best. Hislop had the highest score at the meet on the balance beam, vault and floor. She did not compete in the uneven bars but she dominated the other three events.
“Khazia Hislop did one of the best routines I have ever seen her do,” Galvin said. “It was absolutely beautiful.”
