RALEIGH, N.C. - Senior Kacy Catanzaro earned a career high 39.25 all-around score as she led the Tigers (12-5) to their second-highest team score of the season in a meet at No. 19 North Carolina State on Friday evening.

With a 193.925 team score, the Tigers finished third in a very competitive meet. The Wolfpack won the meet with a 196.675 team score while Kent State was second in the meet (194.45). The Tigers were third with their 193.925 score and finished ahead of William and Mary (192.400).

Catanzaro, who earned the eighth-highest all-around score in school history, also earned a career high 9.90 score on vault, finishing second in the meet. She also had a 9.80 on bars, a 9.825 on balance beam and a 9.725 on floor exercise. Her 9.825 score on beam matched her career high.

“Kacy had another great meet,” said Coach Vicki Chliszczyk. “It seems like she is setting career highs every week. This was a very good meet for us. We went into the final rotation with a 0.60-point lead over Kent State. But, Kent State vaulted very well in the final rotation and snuck by us.

“I am so proud of this team for the way they have trusted us and believed in what we are doing.”

The Tigers opened the meet on floor exercise and earned a 48.575 team score, led by senior Avis Hixon’s 9.825 score. Competing on floor for the first time in a month, junior Britney Russell (right) earned a 9.75 score.

On vault, Catanzaro’s 9.90 score led the Tigers to a 48.85 team score. Senior Lindsay Poplaski matched her career high with a 9.80 score while Hixon contributed a 9.775 score.

On bars, Catanzaro earned a 9.80 as she helped the Tigers post a 48.45 score. Freshman Samantha Lutz added a 9.725 while Poplaski contributed a 9.70.

The Tigers went into their final rotation with a 145.875 team score. Although the Tigers didn’t count any falls, they had a 48.05 team score on beam. It wasn’t enough to overcome Kent State’s 49.125 vault score as Kent State finished second in the meet.

Catanzaro led the Tigers on beam with a 9.825 score, matching her career high. Russell also had a 9.775 beam score.

On vault, Catanzaro finished second in the meet with her 9.90 score. Sophomore Diahann Ham of NC State won the vault competition with a 9.925 score.

Sophomore Stephanie Ouellette of the Wolfpack won the bars competition with a 9.90 score as she tied for first place with teammate Rachel Finchen.

On beam, senior Jess Panza of NC State earned a 9.90 score to take first place. Catanzaro tied for fourth place on beam.

Hixon was the Tigers’ top performer on floor as she was part of five-way tie for second place with a 9.825 score. Junior Marie Case of Kent State won the floor exercise with a 9.875 score.

Although she had a career high 39.25 all-around score, Catanzaro finished third behind Ouellette and Case. Ouellette, the daughter of Tigers’ volunteer assistant coach Bob Ouellette, won the all-around with a 39.325 score. Case earned a 39.30 score to finish second.

The Tigers, who earned their second-highest team score of the season at NC State, return to action next Friday night when they host Yale University and William and Mary in the Towson Center.

COLLEGE GYMNASTICS:  1. North Carolina State 196.675; 2. Kent State 194.450; 3. Towson 193.925; 4. William and Mary 192.400.

VAULT:  1. Diahann Ham (NCS), 9.925;  2. Kacy Catanzaro (TOW), 9.900 – career high; 3. Alex Williams (NCS), 9.875.

BARS:  1. Stephanie Ouellette (NCS), 9.90; Rachel Finchen (NCS), 9.90; 3. Jess Panza (NCS), 9.825; Erin Rothrock (NCS), 9.825.

BALANCE BEAM:  1. Jess Panza (NCS), 9.90; 2. Rachel Fincham (NCS), 9.875; Lane Jared (NCS), 9.875; 4. Kacy Catanzaro (TOW), 9.825;  Stephanie Ouellette (NCS), 9.825.

FLOOR EXERCISE:  1. Marie Case (KENT), 9.875; 2. Stephanie Ouellette (NCS), 9.825; Rachel Finchen (NCS), 9.825; Diahann Ham (NCS), 9.825; Whitney Johnson (KENT), 9.825; Avis Hixon (TOW), 9.825.

ALL-AROUND:  1. Stephanie Ouellette (NCS), 39.325; 2.  Marie Case (KENT), 39.30; 3. Kacy Catanzaro (TOW), 39.25 – career high; 4. Jess Panza (NCS), 39.20;  5. Kristen Milardo (W&M), 38.975; 6. Lindsay Poplaski (TOW), 38.10.