Huskers Continue Big 12 Schedule Against Missouri

The 13th-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (1-2) plays host to 12th-ranked Missouri at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.

The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team lost its first Big 12 meet of the season, as fourth-ranked Iowa State defeated NU in a dual at Hilton Coliseum, Friday, Jan. 23, 196.925-196.275. The Huskers fell to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12, as the Cyclones captured their third win of the season and remained undefeated overall and 2-0 in the Big 12.

The Huskers scored above 49.0 in three events, the vault (49.225), the balance beam (49.10), and the floor exercise (49.075), but it was not enough to rally past the Cyclones. Senior Richelle Simpson captured first-place honors in two events, as she tied for first on the uneven bars (9.85) and secured a first-place finish on the vault (9.95). Senior Tami Harris secured top-five finishes on two events, as she captured third place on the uneven bars (9.825) and tied for fourth place on the floor exercise (9.875). Freshman Stephanie Carter also finished in the top five in two events, tying for fourth place on the vault (9.85) and third place on the balance beam (9.85).

Scouting the Tigers
The Missouri women’s gymnastics team is coming off a win against in-state rival Southeast Missouri State, 196.500-194.300, Sunday, Jan. 25. The 196.500 mark was MU’s second-highest score in school history. The Tigers set all-time records on the balance beam (49.400) and the floor exercise (49.275), as they won their second dual of the year and improved to 2-1.

Senior Andrea Nervig won the bars title for the second meet in a row with a 9.90 score. Her previous score of 9.925, a career-best, came against Iowa State. Sophomore Lauren Schwartzman captured first place on the balance beam, posting a 9.900. Her sesason average on the event is a 9.925. In addition, senior Rachel Bridges and Nervig posted career-high 9.900s to tie for second place against Southeast Missouri State.

Nebraska Notes
- Nebraska earned its highest opening-meet score in school history (196.550) against Michigan, Jan. 11, topping the previous record of 196.450 against Georgia in 2003.

- Freshman Kristi Esposito scored a 9.925 in her debut against Michigan on the floor exercise to tie the freshman record in the event.

- Senior Libby Landgraf took first-place honors on the uneven bars, scoring a 9.90, as the senior matched her career high in the event against Michigan, Jan. 11.

- Senior Richelle Simpson captured the all-around title with a score of 39.70 against Michigan, Jan. 11 including first-place honors on the vault (9.975) and floor exercise (9.95).

- The Huskers scored above 49.00 in three events, the vault, the bars and the floor exercise against Michigan, Jan. 11.

- The win against Michigan marked Nebraska’s 50th consecutive regular-season home win dating back to the 1993 season.

- Three Huskers, seniors Tiffany Byrd, Tami Harris and Richelle Simpson, scored a 9.850 on the uneven bars in a four-way tie for second place against Michigan.

- Senior Libby Landgraf led the Huskers in the all-around with a 39.35 to finish second against Utah, Jan. 16.

- Freshman Kristi Esposito, had a breakout performance in the all-around competition, capturing third place with a score a 39.275 against Utah, Jan. 16.

- Stephanie Carter tied for third on balance beam (9.85) and fourth on vault (9.80), and senior Tiffany Byrd tied Landgraf for third on balance beam (9.85) against Utah, Jan. 16.

Coaching Milestones
Head Coach Dan Kendig is Nebraska women’s gymnastics all-time winningest coach. In 11 years at Nebraska, Kendig is 250-84-2 overall and 182-31-0 in regular season meets, including 49-0 at home. He is in his 21st season of coaching and owns a career record of 363-196-3.

A six-time conference coach of the year, Kendig has guided the Huskers to nine conference titles and four straight regional titles in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

He has also led the Huskers to eight NCAA Championships appearances in the past 10 seasons, including NCAA Super Six Finals appearances in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. He was selected as the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003, and earned 2000 Region 3 Coach-of-the-Year honors, after guiding the Huskers to a 25-5 regular-season record and a No. 5 national ranking.

Kendig is assisted by Danna Durante, who is in her second season with Nebraska, and Adrian Burde, who is in his third season on the Husker staff.

Huskers Home Streak at 50
With its victory over Michigan on Jan. 16, Nebraska extened its regular-season home meet winning streak to 50, including 49 under coach Dan Kendig. In that stretch Nebraska has faced 70 opponents, many ranked in the top 20 in the nation. The Huskers have not lost a regular-season home meet since the 1993 Masters Classic.

The only times Nebraska has not taken first at home under Kendig were the 1995 Midwest Regional, when Nebraska finished second to NCAA champion Utah, the 1999 Region 3 Championships when the Huskers finished second to NCAA runner-up Michigan, and the 2003 NCAA Super Six Finals when the Huskers finished fourth.

NU’s Landgraf Named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week
Nebraska’s Libby Landgraf finished second (39.35) in the all-around against No. 1 Utah to earn Big 12 Gymnast-of-the-Week honors the week of Jan. 19.

The senior from Fort Collins, Colo., secured top-five finishes on all four events, including a tie for third on balance beam (9.85), while tying for fourth on both vault (9.80) and uneven bars (9.85).

Freshman Carter Continues to Standout
The Huskers have shown they have added plenty of depth to the lineup in 2004. Nebraska’s freshman class is made up of six newcomers including Stephanie Carter, Kristi Esposito, Natasha Gowda, Danielle Millis, Kylie Tanner and Michele Zabawa, who bring extensive experience to the Husker squad. Carter especially has played an important role in the team’s effort this season.

Carter came to the Huskers from Georgia Tech, where she was previously studying engineering. Carter did not compete at Georgia Tech, but she was a former international elite gymnast who competed in gymnastics for 12 years before coming to Nebraska.

Carter met Coach Dan Kendig in the summer of 2003, while working out at her old gym in Pennsylvania. With a a strong desire to return to gymnastics, Carter was recruited by Kendig to come to Nebraska. She accepted the offer and decided to walk on to the team. She is currently a redshirt freshman on the Huskers’ squad.

"I think her value to the team will increase the longer she is with the program and the more she is able to get herself into competition shape again," Kendig said. "We will look to her to help us on vault and beam, and we are excited to have her here."

An elite gymnast, Carter competed for the Ricochets under Troy Miller. Carter was a member of the Senior National Team from 1999 to 2000. She was a member of the Junior National team from 1997 to 2000. She was the 1993 and 1996 Pennsylvania state champion. She was also the first woman to do a double-to-double.

In her season debut, Carter competed in three events for the Huskers including the vault, beam and floor exercise. Carter scored a 9.825 on the vault, as the Huskers went six for six on their vaults.

At Utah, Carter tied for third on balance beam (9.85) and fourth on vault (9.80), improving upon two of her season best scores.

In her third meet of the season, Carter cranked out solid performances on the vault, balance beam and floor exercise. She finished in the top five in two events, tying for fourth place on the vault (9.85) and third place on the balance beam (9.85).