Huskers Travel to No. 10 Oklahoma for Big 12 Dual

The ninth-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (2-2) will travel to Norman, Okla. to compete in a dual against 10th-ranked Oklahoma at the Lloyd Noble Center, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. The dual will also be featured Live on HuskersNside.

Nebraska is coming off a big win against Big 12 opponent Missouri. NU captured its second win of the season as it defeated then-No. 12 Missouri, 197.750-195.650, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, Jan. 31.

The Huskers had a meet full of season bests and career highs against Missouri, as NU captured its 51st straight regular-season win at home, and its 50th win under Head Coach Dan Kendig. Eight Huskers combined to capture 15 season-high scores, while six Huskers combined to capture seven career-high scores. The night began with senior Gina Bruce scoring a perfect 10.00 on the vault and capturing first-place honors in the event to lead the Huskers. Bruce became the sixth Husker in school history to score a perfect 10.0 on the vault and the first Husker to score a perfect 10.0 on any apparatus this season. NU secured a team total of 49.60 on the vault, which marks the third-highest score in school history.

Scouting the Sooners

The Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team suffered a 196.775-195.675 defeat to then-No. 5 Iowa State in its Big 12 opener, Feb. 1. The then-No. 9 Sooners (7-6) produced higher team scores on the bars and floor against Iowa State, but struggled on vault and beam. It was OU’s first loss at home under head coach Steve Nunno.

OU began the dual with a 48.325 on vault, while Iowa State took an early lead with a 49.250 on its first event, the uneven bars. The Sooners narrowed the gap during the second rotation with a 49.375 on the uneven bars, but the Cyclones scored a team score of 49.175 on floor to extend their lead over the Sooners. OU finished the evening with a 48.650 on the balance beam and a 49.325 on the floor exercise.

Senior co-captain Kasie Tamayo tied for first place on the balance beam (9.900), uneven bars (9.925) and floor exerise (9.875). Junior Erin LaBarr and freshman Ashley Cooney also tied for first-place on the floor exercise. In addition, Cooney scored a 9.775 on vault to tie for fifth in the event.

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, and then matched the mark against Missouri 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 win against Missouri marked Nebraska’s 51st consecutive regular-season home win dating back to the 1993 season.
• Two Huskers, seniors Libby Landgraf and Richelle Simpson, scored above a 9.90 on the vault against Missouri, Jan. 31. Landgraf tied her career-high 9.925 in the event.
• Senior Libby Landgraf took first-place honors on the floor exercise with a career high 9.95 against Missouri, Jan. 31. She is only gymnast in college gymnastics to throw a three and a half twist in competition on the floor exercise.
• Senior Libby Landgraf and freshman Kristi Esposito led the Huskers in the all-around, tying with a 39.425 to finish first against Missouri, Jan. 31.
• Senior Gina Bruce became the sixth Husker in school history to score a perfect 10.0 on the vault and the first Husker to score a perfect 10.0 on any apparatus this season for the Huskers.
• NU secured a team total of 49.60 on the vault against Missouri, which marks the third-highest score in school history.
• Eight Huskers combined to capture 15 season-high scores, while six Huskers combined to capture seven career-high scores against Missouri, Jan. 31.

Huskers Home Streak at 51

With its victory over Missouri Jan. 31, Nebraska extended its regular-season home meet winning streak to 51, including 50 straight under coach Dan Kendig. In that stretch, Nebraska has faced 71 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.

Bruce Scores Perfect 10

In 2003, senior Gina Bruce captured her first perfect 10 on the vault, but it was in an exhibition. This season, Bruce is making the most of her opportunities and it showed against Missouri, Jan. 31. The Huskers began the evening on the vault and Bruce was the fifth gymnast in the lineup. She landed a perfect vault, and NU was off to its best start on any event this season. Bruce became the sixth Husker in school history to score a perfect 10.00 on the vault, and the first Husker to score a perfect 10.00 on any apparatus this season for the Huskers. The team secured a team total of 49.60 on the vault, which marks the third-highest score in school history.

Freshman Esposito Continues to Excel

Freshman Kristi Esposito continues to improve week by week. The Slidell, La., native set a new career high and a new season best in the all-around against Missouri, Jan. 31. She scored a 39.425 to tie senior Libby Landgraf for first place in the all-around. Esposito also improved upon her individual scores in every event, capturing new career highs and season bests on the vault and the balance beam. She also tied her career high of 9.925 on the floor exercise.

Against Missouri, she scored 9.85 for the Huskers on the vault. The 9.85 was also a season best and career high for the freshman. She also added a solid performance on the bars, scoring a 9.85, while scoring a 9.80 for a new season best and career high on the balance beam. In addition, Esposito scored a 9.925 to tie for runner-up honors in the event, while tying her career high and season best on the event.

NU’s Landgraf Earns Big 12 Honors 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).

Coaching Milestones

Head Coach Dan Kendig is Nebraska women’s gymnastics all-time winningest coach. In 11 years at Nebraska, Kendig is 251-84-2 overall and 183-31-0 in regular season meets, including 50-0 at home. He is in his 21st season of coaching and owns a career record of 364-196-3.

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.