Huskers Host Masters Classic this Weekend

Lincoln -- The seventh-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (5-2) will host Arizona State, Florida and Illinois in the annual Masters Classic at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m.

The seventh-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team defeated the University of Denver, 196.600-196.425, in a close showdown at Hamilton Gymnasium, Feb. 21.

The Huskers scored above 49.0 in three events, including the vault (49.30), the balance beam (49.20) and the floor exercise (49.15). Freshman Kristi Esposito led the Huskers in the all-around, scoring a career-high 39.525 to run away with the all-around title. Esposito finished third on vault (9.85) and second on floor exercise (9.90) and balance beam (9.925). Esposito’s 9.925 on the balance beam was a career high for the Slidell, La., native. Senior Libby Landgraf finished in third place in the all-around with a 39.40, taking first on vault (9.90) and second on uneven bars (9.875).

Nebraska Notes

• - Freshman Kristi Esposito scored a career-high 39.525 in the all-around against Denver, while scoring a career-high on the balance beam (9.925) to finish in second place.
• - Freshman Michele Zabawa set a new career-high 9.825 on the vault against Denver.
• - Senior Libby Landgraf finished in third place in the all-around with a 39.40, taking first on vault (9.90) and second on uneven bars (9.875).
• - Senior Libby Landgraf led the Huskers in the all-around against Ohio State with a career-high 39.575.
• The win against Ohio Sate marked Nebraska’s 52nd consecutive regular-season home win dating back to the 1993 season.
• Esposito finished in the top five in three events, tying for first on uneven bars (9.90) and tying for third on the balance beam (9.875) and floor exercise (9.90) against Oklahoma, Feb. 6.
• 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 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 against Missouri, Jan. 31. She was 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.
• 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).

Scouting the Sun Devils -  Head Coach - John Spini
2004 Overall Record - 6-4
Arizona State scored its second-highest team score of the season, a 196.50, but fell to fourth-ranked Utah (196.850) in the 2004 UNO’s Classic, Feb. 20. The Air Force Academy finished in third place with a 190.60.

Sophomore Ashley Kelly led the Sun Devils, capturing the all-around title with a score of 39.750. Her sixth all-around title of the year, while Cassandra Jusino finished in fifth (38.90). Kelly tied for first place on the uneven bars (9.925), took first place on the balance beam (9.975) and third on the floor exercise (9.975), a career high. Junior Maggie Germaine also scored a perfect 10 on the floor exercise at the UNO’s Classic for the first time this season.

Against Oregon State, the Sun Devils set a new school record on the floor exercise with a 49.525 and captured a season-high 196.975 team score. In their season opener, the Sun Devils upset Stanford, 195.825-195.50. The victory snapped a nine-meet losing streak against Stanford.

Scouting the Gators -  Head Coach - Rhonda Faehn
2004 Overall Record - 9-4
The fifth-ranked University of Florida gymnasts defeated No. 17 Arkansas, 197.375-195.925, Feb. 20 to capture the dual meet victory. Florida’s team score is the season-best score on the Gator All-Time records.

Junior All-American Erinn Dooley captured the first all-around title of her Gator career with a collegiate- and UF season-best total 39.575, as Florida captured every event title against Arkansas. In addition, freshman Katie Rue earned the first event title of her collegiate career, taking top honors on the vault with a career-high 9.925.

Florida also swept the top three spots in both the uneven bars and balance beam. Three Florida gymnasts, Kristen Stucky, Erin Pendleton and Dooley, shared top honors as each matched the season best bars score of 9.925. Stucky also led the sweep on the beam with her winning score of 9.925.

Scouting the Fighting Illini - Head Coach - Bob Starkell
2004 Overall Record - 6-3
The Fighting Illini have gradually improved meet by meet over the course of the 2004 season. With outstanding performances from junior co-captain Ashley Williams. Illini defeated Ball State 195.45-192.25, Feb. 21. The Illini dominated all four events and took at least the top two individual places on each event, while posting their second highest team score of the season.

Individually, Williams not only won the all-around with a school record score of 39.475, breaking teammate Kara Kapernekas’ record of 39.375 by a full tenth, but she also tied or set three other career-highs and finished first or second on each event. She tied for first on vault with a career-high 9.85 and won the balance beam with a career-high tying score of 9.90. She also took second place on the uneven bars with a 9.825 and on the floor exercise with a career-high 9.90.

Last Weekend:
The Huskers began their first rotation against Denver on the uneven bars, as NU hit five of six routines. Landgraf led the Huskers on the bars, scoring a 9.875 and capturing second place. Esposito scored a 9.85 and captured third place. In addition, senior Tami Harris scored a solid 9.80, while freshman Michele Zabawa added a 9.75 and senior Gina Bruce scored a 9.675 to the Huskers’ efforts in the event. The Huskers trailed the Pioneers after the first rotation, 48.950-49.350.

In the second rotation on the vault, the Huskers hit five of their six vaults, scoring a team total of 49.30. Landgraf led the Huskers, scoring a 9.90 and tying for first place on the vault. Harris added a 9.875 and tied for fourth place. Harris’ score was also a season high. Esposito and freshman Stephanie Carter added strong vaults to the Huskers’ performance, as each scored 9.85. In addition, Zabawa scored a career-high 9.825 in the event.

The Huskers entered their third rotation on the floor exercise where all six gymnasts hit their floor routines. Esposito, who scored a 9.90 and tied for second place, led the Huskers. Bruce and Harris and Landgraf all scored 9.85, while Carter added a 9.700. Junior Jamie Saas also scored a 9.60 in her season debut on the floor exercise.

The Huskers finished the evening on the balance beam, as Saas led the Huskers with a 9.95 and captured first place in the event. Esposito added a career-high 9.925 to tie for second place.

Huskers Home Streak at 52
With its victory over Ohio State, Feb. 15, Nebraska extended its regular-season home meet winning streak to 52, including 51 straight under Head Coach Dan Kendig. In that stretch, Nebraska has faced 72 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.

13 Gymnasts Named to Big 12 Honor Roll
Ten current members of the 2003-04 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team and three former members of the 2002-03 squad earned spots on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Fall Academic Honor Roll released, Feb. 10.

NU’s women gymnasts were among the 286 current and former Husker student-athletes who earned recognition from the conference. The Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes who earned a 3.0 GPA or higher during the semester.

The gymnasts honored included Gina Bruce, Sr. (Marketing), Tiffany Byrd, Sr. (Nutritional Science & Dietetics), Stephanie Carter, Fr. (Business Administration), Kristi Esposito, Fr. (Elementary Education), Jen French, Sr. (Exercise Science), Julie Houk, Sr. (Management), Natasha Gowda, Fr. (Undeclared), Libby Landgraf, Sr. (Business Administration), Dani Millis, Fr. (Undeclared), Jamie Saas, Jr. (Inclusive Early Childhood Education), Richelle Simpson, Sr. (French/International Studies), Jess Wertz, Sr. (Biological Sciences) and Michele Zabawa, Fr. (Undeclared).

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. 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 39.525 in the all-around against Denver, Feb. 21. Esposito finished third on vault (9.85) and second on floor exercise (9.90) and balance beam (9.925). Esposito’s 9.925 on the balance beam was a career high.

Esposito scored a 39.425 to earn runner-up honors in the all-around against Ohio State. She tied for third place on the uneven bars (9.90), tied for first place on the balance beam (9.875) and captured runner-up honors on the floor exercise (9.90).

At Oklahoma, Esposito finished in the top five in three events. She tied for first on uneven bars (9.90) and tied for third on the balance beam (9.875) and floor exercise (9.90)

Against Missouri on 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, while scoring a 9.85 for the Huskers on the vault. The 9.85 was also a career high for the freshman. She also added a solid performance on the bars, scoring a 9.85. 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).