Huskers Win Season Opener Against Wolverines

Lincoln  ? The eighth-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team defeated fifth-ranked Michigan, 196.550-195.075, Sunday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Center in a matchup of two of the top-10 teams in the preseason poll.

The Huskers scored above 49.00 in three events, the vault, the bars and the floor exercise, as NU went on to win their season open with their highest opening meet score in school history, topping the 196.45 against Georgia in 2003. The win marked Nebraska’s 50th consecutive home regular-season home win dating back to the 1993 season.

"I am pleased with the team today, and the freshmen really came through for us," Head Coach Dan Kendig said. "They performed very well overall and it was a great start to the season."

The Huskers were led by senior Richelle Simpson, who captured the all-around title with a score of 39.70, including first-place honors on vault (9.975) and floor exercise (9.95). Senior Libby Landgraf finished fourth in the all-around with a 39.10, capturing first place honor on the uneven bars with a score of 9.90.

The Huskers hit all of their vaults, going six for six led by Simpson. Simpson, who scored an impressive 9.975 and took first-place honors. Landgraf scored a 9.875 in the event and secured a third-place finish, while senior Gina Bruce scored a 9.85 to place fifth. In her debut on vault, freshman Stephanie Carter scored a 9.825. In addition, freshmen Michele Zabawa and Kristi Esposito scored a 9.80 and 9.775, respectively. The Huskers held the lead after the first event against the Wolverines, 49.325-48.525.

Landgraf had another solid performance on the uneven bars, as she took first-place honors, scoring a 9.90, as the senior matched her career high. The Huskers continued to be consistent on the uneven bars as three Huskers, Simpson, senior Tiffany Byrd and senior Tami Harris, captured a 9.850 in a four-way tie for second place. Zabawa scored a 9.750, while fellow freshman Natasha Gowda scored a 9.675. The Huskers extended their lead after two events, 98.525?97.425.

On the balance beam, four out of six Huskers hit their routines en route to a 48.875 on the event. Simpson led the Huskers, capturing a 9.925 and securing runner-up honors, while junior Jamie Saas scored a 9.85 to tie for fifth. Byrd went on to score a 9.775, while Gowda captured a 9.750. Carter and Landgraf scored a 9.350 and 9.575, respectively. The Huskers continued to dominate the Wolverines after the third event, 147.400-146.900.

Simpson led the Huskers on the floor exercise with a 9.95, securing first place honors while Esposito had an incredible performance in her debut on the floor exercise. The Slidell, La. Native scored a 9.925 to tie the freshman record in the event. Bruce contributed to NU’s success on the floor exercise with a 9.800. Landgraf added a 9.750 and Gowda scored a 9.725.

"We will get better meet by meet, but we became a team today, and we learned a lot about ourselves," Kendig said.

The Huskers will compete at Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, this Friday, Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. (CST).