Huskers Host ISU on Senior Day

Lincoln -- The 13th-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (9-2) will put their 53-meet home regular-season winning streak on the line, as they host ninth-ranked Iowa State in its last regular-home season meet, Sunday, March 14 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center at 2 p.m. Following the meet, the Huskers will also honor their four seniors, Gina Bruce, Tiffany Byrd, Tami Harris and Libby Landgraf, who will be competing in their final regular-season home meet. NU's fifth senior, Richelle, Simspon, has been sidelined with a knee injury and hopes to return next season.

NU's 2004 senior class has won three straight Big 12 Championship titles, three straight regional titles and made three straight trips to the NCAA Super Six Finals. Altogether, they have garnered 10 All-American awards and will continue to play significant roles as the Huskers go into postseason competition.

Nebraska is coming off a 196.750-196.625 win over Minnesota, March 6. The Huskers had a solid away meet, hitting 22 of 24 routines. NU also scored above 49.0 in three events, including vault (49.375), uneven bars (49.325), and floor exercise (49.225). Four Huskers set new individual career highs, while a Husker captured first-place honors on three of the four events, including the vault, the uneven bars and the balance beam.

Freshman Kristi Esposito led the Huskers in the all-around, winning her third all-around title of the season with a 39.45. The Slidell, La. native tied for third place on the balance beam (9.85) and tied for second place on the floor exercise (9.90). Senior Libby Landgraf captured first place on the uneven bars with a career-high 9.95 and tied for third on the vault. Freshman Michele Zabawa and senior Tami Harris tied for first place on the vault with a 9.90. Harris also finished in second place (9.875) on the balance beam. Junior Jamie Saas took first place on the balance beam with a 9.925 and tied for fourth place on the floor exercise.

Scouting the Cyclones
Nebraska leads the all-time series against Iowa State, 73-9. The last Husker win against the Cyclones came in 2003 when NU defeated Iowa State, 197.500-195.700 at the Big 12 Championships, March 29. The last time the Cycloness defeated NU was Jan. 31, 2004 at Iowa State. The Huskers lost 196.925-196.275.

Iowa State is guided by K.J. Kindler, who is in her fourth year with the Cyclones and owns a 45-31 record at Iowa State. During the 2003 season, the Cyclones finished fourth in the Big 12 Conference and finished third at NCAA regionals.

The Iowa State women’s gymnastics team is ranked ninth in the NACGC Poll with an RQS of 195.395. The Cyclones are led by sophomore all-arounders Erin Dethloff and Laura-Kay Powell, and freshman Janet Anson. Iowa State women’s gymnastics team suffered its first loss of the 2004 season, March 5 against No. 2 Georgia (196.625-197.400). ISU’s is currently 8-1 overall and 3-0 in Big 12 Conference.

Powell (39.475), Dethoff (39.450) and Anson (39.325) took second, third, and fourth place in the all-around competition against Georgia. The Cyclones ISU outscored Georgia 49.475-48.650 on the floor. Powell and Anson shared fifth in the event (9.90). Dethloff matched her career-high score to finish third (9.95).

NU vs. Minnesota Recap
The Huskers began their first rotation at Minnesota on the uneven bars, hitting all six of their routines. Senior Libby Landgraf led the Huskers with a career-high 9.95 on the bars, capturing first-place in the event. Three of the Huskers, freshman Kristi Esposito, freshman Natasha Gowda and senior Tami Harris all scored a 9.85. Gowda’s score was a career high for the freshman, while senior Gina Bruce added a season-best 9.825 to the Huskers’ solid performance in the event. Freshman Michele Zabawa also scored a 9.825, as the Huskers finished the rotation with a 49.325, leading the Gophers (48.85).

In the second rotation on the vault, the Huskers continued to have solid performances. All six NU gymnasts hit their vaults, as Zabawa and Harris tied for first-place honors with a 9.90. Zabawa’s vault score was also a career high for the freshman. Landgraf added a 9.875 to tie for third place in the event, while Esposito and Bruce both scored a 9.85 and tied for fifth place. In addition, freshman Stephanie Carter scored a 9.80, as the Huskers finished the event with a 49.375. The Huskers extended their lead over the Gophers, 98.70-98.125.

The Huskers entered their third rotation on the floor exercise with Esposito leading the Huskers. She scored a 9.90 to capture runner-up honors, while junior Jamie Saas scored a career-high 9.85 and tied for fourth place. Carter, Gowda and Bruce all scored a 9.825, while Zabawa added a 9.75 to the Huskers’ efforts. NU finished with a team total 49.225, continuing to dominate their opponent, 147.925-147.275.

The Huskers finished the evening on the balance beam, as Saas led the Huskers with a 9.925. She took first-place honors in the event, while Harris scored a 9.875 and captured second place. Carter and Esposito each added a 9.85 and tied for third place, as the Huskers finished the event with a 48.825.

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.

Coaching Milestones
Head Coach Dan Kendig is Nebraska women’s gymnastics all-time winningest coach. In 11 years at Nebraska, Kendig is 258-84-2 overall and 190-31-0 in regular season meets, including 52-0 at home. He is in his 21st season of coaching and owns a career record of 371-196-3.

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.