No. 8 Georgia will be on the road for the third consecutive time in as many weeks as it takes on North Carolina Saturday at 1 p.m. ET in Chapel Hill.
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The Gymdogs are coming off a 198.075-196.850 loss at then-No. 3 LSU last Friday. LSU registered a season-high 198.075 to become the fourth team that has scored its overall season high against the Gymdogs this season. Despite the loss, Georgia’s score helped the Gymdogs climb in the national rankings by one spot.
Saturday’s meet will provide Georgia its last chance to improve its RQS score before RQS takes effect on Feb. 23, as the meet with UNC will be Georgia’s last away meet before the initial scores are published.
[break] [break] Georgia vs. UNC History
This is the 19th meeting between Georgia and UNC and only the second matchup in Chapel Hill. The Gymdogs hold a 17-1 edge overall and a 3-1 mark in dual meets. UNC’s lone win in the series came in 1977 which was Georgia’s most recent and only visit to the Tarheels’ turf. The last time the teams met in a dual meet was in 2001 when No. 3 Georgia topped UNC 196.500-191.425 and Kristi Lichey and Cory Fritzinger each scored perfect 10s. The teams last met in the 2010 NCAA Columbia Regional.
[break] [break] Last Time Out
Although Georgia scored a season-best 49.425 on vault, the Gymdogs fell to then-No. 3 LSU, 198.075-196.850, on the road last Friday night. Brandie Jay led the way on vault with a 9.925, marking the fifth time this season she has turned in Georgia’s highest score on the event. Two freshmen, Natalie Vaculik and Gigi Marino, highlighted the night for Georgia with career highs. Vaculik scored a 9.9 on vault and Marino recorded 9.85s on both vault and floor. Brittany Rogers also turned in season-best on both vault and beam with scores of 9.875 and 9.85, respectively.
[break] [break] Noteworthy
» Two Gymdogs will be competing in their home state on Saturday, junior Whitney Kirby (Claremont, N.C.) and senior Sarah Persinger (Mount Holly, N.C.).
» In Georgia’s five meets this season, 57 percent (82/144) of the Gymdogs’ routines have been performed by freshmen or sophomores.
» Georgia is competing in the state of North Carolina for the first time since the 2013 regular season finale against NC State.
» Seven different Georgia gymnasts have taken top honors on an event this season. Brandie Jay and Ashlyn Broussard lead the team with four event titles apiece, while Kiera Brown, Mary Beth Box and Chelsea Davis have two each. Rachel Schick and Brittany Rogers have placed first on bars once this season.
» Georgia has either already competed against or will compete later this season against five teams currently ranked in the top-six. The Gymdogs faced current No. 4 Florida and No. 2 LSU in the previous two weeks, as well as No. 5 Michigan on Jan. 10. Georgia will take on No. 6 Alabama Feb. 20 and No. 3 Utah on March 14.
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[break] [break] Georgia vs. UNC History
This is the 19th meeting between Georgia and UNC and only the second matchup in Chapel Hill. The Gymdogs hold a 17-1 edge overall and a 3-1 mark in dual meets. UNC’s lone win in the series came in 1977 which was Georgia’s most recent and only visit to the Tarheels’ turf. The last time the teams met in a dual meet was in 2001 when No. 3 Georgia topped UNC 196.500-191.425 and Kristi Lichey and Cory Fritzinger each scored perfect 10s. The teams last met in the 2010 NCAA Columbia Regional.
[break] [break] Last Time Out
Although Georgia scored a season-best 49.425 on vault, the Gymdogs fell to then-No. 3 LSU, 198.075-196.850, on the road last Friday night. Brandie Jay led the way on vault with a 9.925, marking the fifth time this season she has turned in Georgia’s highest score on the event. Two freshmen, Natalie Vaculik and Gigi Marino, highlighted the night for Georgia with career highs. Vaculik scored a 9.9 on vault and Marino recorded 9.85s on both vault and floor. Brittany Rogers also turned in season-best on both vault and beam with scores of 9.875 and 9.85, respectively.
[break] [break] Noteworthy
» Two Gymdogs will be competing in their home state on Saturday, junior Whitney Kirby (Claremont, N.C.) and senior Sarah Persinger (Mount Holly, N.C.).
» In Georgia’s five meets this season, 57 percent (82/144) of the Gymdogs’ routines have been performed by freshmen or sophomores.
» Georgia is competing in the state of North Carolina for the first time since the 2013 regular season finale against NC State.
» Seven different Georgia gymnasts have taken top honors on an event this season. Brandie Jay and Ashlyn Broussard lead the team with four event titles apiece, while Kiera Brown, Mary Beth Box and Chelsea Davis have two each. Rachel Schick and Brittany Rogers have placed first on bars once this season.
» Georgia has either already competed against or will compete later this season against five teams currently ranked in the top-six. The Gymdogs faced current No. 4 Florida and No. 2 LSU in the previous two weeks, as well as No. 5 Michigan on Jan. 10. Georgia will take on No. 6 Alabama Feb. 20 and No. 3 Utah on March 14.
Rankings
Georgia jumped one spot to No. 8 in this week’s top-25. The Gymdogs are No. 12 on vault, sixth on bars, 19th on beam and No. 13 on floor. Individually, Brandie Jay moved into the top-10 on vault with the No. 10 national ranking. Chelsea Davis is tied for 19th on bars. Although UNC does have an overall ranking, the Tarheels are No. 22 on bars.
Georgia jumped one spot to No. 8 in this week’s top-25. The Gymdogs are No. 12 on vault, sixth on bars, 19th on beam and No. 13 on floor. Individually, Brandie Jay moved into the top-10 on vault with the No. 10 national ranking. Chelsea Davis is tied for 19th on bars. Although UNC does have an overall ranking, the Tarheels are No. 22 on bars.