Two star UNC women earned recognition for their performances during the past weekend. Gymnastics freshman Lali Dekanoidze, already a four-time East Atlantic Gymnastics League Gymnast of the Week, won Rookie of the Week honors Tuesday for her performance in a win at NC State last Saturday. Dekanoidze and freshman teammate Julia Knower are currently ranked Nos. 10 and 12 in the NCAA in all-around competition.
Dekanoidze claimed the all-around title against the Wolfpack. Her 39.475 was just part of Carolina’s highest team score in 18 years. Dekanoidze won outright event titles on beam and floor, and shared the vault title with Knower.
Dekanoidze, Knower and the rest of the Tar Heels will next compete Thursday night against West Virginia in Chapel Hill. It’s the team’s final home meet of the season.
In women’s lacrosse, goalie Taylor Moreno was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week following wins over Furman and No. 7 Florida. The Furman game saw Moreno break the UNC record with her 50th win in net for the Tar Heels. She made eight saves in the win at Florida on Saturday, which made all the difference in a 15-11 final. Moreno is the reigning National Goalkeeper of the Year, and was named preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the 2022 season.
The No. 2 Tar Heels are 3-0 on the young season. They will visit Pitt on Thursday before beginning a four-game homestand the following Sunday against Jacksonville.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Courtney Culbreath
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