Huskers Set to Compete against Minnesota

Lincoln -- The 11th-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (8-2) will travel to the University of Minnesota to compete against the Golden Gophers Saturday, March 6, at the Sports Pavilion at 7 p.m.

NU extended its regular-season home meet winning streak to 53, Feb. 29, as Nebraska (196.525) defeated fifth-ranked Florida (196.350), Arizona State (195.625) and Illinois (194.025) to win the Master’s Classic at the Devaney Center.

The Huskers scored above 49.0 in three events including the vault (49.35), the uneven bars (49.175) and the floor exercise (49.125). Senior Tami Harris led the Huskers in the all-around, capturing her first all-around title of the season with a career-high 39.55. Harris tied with ASU’s Ashley Kelly for the all-around title, as she captured first place on the vault (9.925), tied for first place on the balance beam (9.925) and tied for first place on the floor exercise (9.875). Senior Libby Landgraf took fourth place in the all-around with a 39.40, as she tied for second place on the vault (9.875), tied for fifth place on the uneven bars (9.85) and tied for first place on the floor exercise (9.875).

Nebraska Notes
*- Senior Tami Harris won her first all-around title of 2004 at the Masters Classic, Feb. 29, with a career-high all-around score of 39.550. She also captured first place on the vault (9.925), tied for first place on the balance beam (9.925) and tied for first place on the floor exercise (9.875).

*- Freshman Kristi Esposito scored a career-high 39.525 in the all-around against Denver, Feb. 21, 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, Feb. 21.

*- 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, Feb. 15, with a career-high 39.575.

*- The win at the Masters Classic marked Nebraska’s 53rd consecutive regular-season home win dating back to the 1993 season.

*- Esposito finished in the top five in three events at Oklahoma, Feb. 6., tying for first on uneven bars (9.90) and tying for third on the balance beam (9.875) and floor exercise (9.90).

*- 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 Gophers
The Minnesota women’s gymnastics team is ranked 25th in the NACGC Poll with an RQS of 195.395. The Gophers are led by seniors Alicia Opsahl and Mary Skokut and junior Carol Yernburg. In addition, sophomore Laura Johnson has been a solid force for the Gophers in 2004. 

The Gophers wrapped up a two-meet weekend swing in Iowa by posting their second best score of the season against Iowa, Feb. 27 with a 195.750. They went on to secure their third-best score of the season against Iowa State, Feb. 29.

The Gophers had solid individual performances against the Cyclones, as Yernburg tied Iowa State sophomore Laura-Kay Powell and freshman Janet Anson for first place on floor exercise with a 9.950. Yernberg’s 9.950 was a career high and tied the second-highest score on floor exercise in school history. Yernberg would also give the Gophers their best individual score on the vault, as she finished third with a 9.875.

Skokut finished in second place in two events, posting a 9.90 on the bars and beam. Opsahl finished fourth on the beam with a 9.875 and fifth on the floor exercise with a 9.90, while Johnson took fifth on both the vault (9.850) and the beam (9.850). Johnson would place fourth in the all-around with a 38.750.

The Gophers secured a season-best score of 196.525 at the Best of Minnesota Meet, defeating Gustavus Adolphus (182.700), Hamline (181.600) and Winona State (178.975).

Masters Classic Recap
The Huskers began their first rotation on the vault and hit all six of their routines. Tami Harris led the Huskers, scoring a season-best 9.925 in the event and capturing first place. Libby Landgraf added a 9.875 on the vault and tied for runner-up honors, while Gina Bruce, Kristi Esposito and Stephanie Carter all scored 9.85 in the event and tied for fourth place. Esposito also tied her career-high on the vault. In addition, Michele Zabawa scored a 9.825 to tie her career-high on the vault. The Huskers led the competition after the first rotation with a score of 49.35, while Florida finished on the floor exercise with a 49.25, edging the Huskers. Illinois scored a 48.575 to finish in third place, while Arizona State trailed with a 48.15.

In the second rotation on the uneven bars, the Huskers hit all of their routines. Esposito led the Huskers, scoring a 9.875 and tying for third place. Landgraf finished strong in the event with a 9.85 and tied for fifth place. Harris and Zabawa both scored 9.825 to add to the Huskers’ efforts on the bars, while Bruce added a 9.80. In addition, freshman Natasha Gowda scored a 9.775. The Huskers extended their lead after the first event, leading Arizona State (97.40), Florida (98.250) and Illinois (97.20) with a 98.525.

In their third rotation on the balance beam, Harris led the Huskers, scoring an impressive career-high 9.925 in the event and tying for first place. Jamie Saas added a 9.90, tying for third place. Carter scored a career-high 9.875 and tied for fifth place, while Landgraf added a 9.80. The Huskers had to count a fall on the balance beam after Gowda and Esposito fell during their routines. At the end of the third rotation, the Huskers trailed Florida, 147.40-147.55.

Nebraska finished the evening on the floor exercise, as Landgraf and Harris both scored 9.875 to lead the Huskers in a five-way tie for first place. Bruce and Esposito each scored 9.85, while Carter scored a 9.675 and Saas added a 9.60.

Harris Wins Masters Classic All-Around Title
Senior Tami Harris captured her first all-around title of the season with a career-high 39.55, Feb. 29 at the Masters Classic. Harris tied with ASU’s Ashley Kelly for the all-around title. Harris took first place on the vault (9.925), tied for first place the balance beam (9.925) and tied for first place on the floor exercise (9.875). It was also the first time since her sophomore season in 2000 that Harris had captured an all-around title.

Huskers Home Streak at 53
With its victory at the Masters Classic, Feb. 29, Nebraska extended its regular-season home meet winning streak to 53, including 52 straight under Head Coach Dan Kendig. In that stretch, Nebraska has faced 75 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 have 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).