Huskers Fall to No. 7 Michigan in Season Opener

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- Sophomore Kristi Esposito won the all-around competition, and senior Richelle Simpson added a third-place all-around finish, but it was not enough to prevent the No. 10 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team from falling to No. 7 Michigan, 195.900-194.200, in front of 3,336 fans at Crisler Arena on Friday night.

 

Esposito captured the all-around crown with a 39.075, while Simpson, the 2003 NCAA all-around champion, placed third with a 38.650.  Esposito finished second on the balance beam, tied for third on the uneven bars and fourth on floor exercise to lead the Huskers. Simpson tied for third with Esposito on bars while finishing fifth on beam.

 

Freshman Emily Parsons made her debut with third place finishes on beam (9.825) and floor. Freshman Desire Sniatynski tied for third on beam with Parsons with a solid 9.825. NU’s other top performers included Stephanie Carter, who placed fifth on beam (9.75), and senior Jamie Saas, the sixth-place finisher on floor with a 9.70.

 

Despite the Huskers' setback at Michigan, Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said he saw plenty of positive signs from performances in NU's season-opening dual with the Wolverines.

 

 

“For the most part, we had some really good things happen tonight," Kendig said. "Seeing Desire and Emily place on some events was very promising. I feel like the progress we’re capable of making is tremendous.”

 

Michigan won all four individual events, as Jennifer Deiley won the vault competition with a 9.90.  Defending NCAA uneven bars champion Elise Ray won that event with a 9.875, and Lindsey Bruck, who was second in the all-around (38.800) to Esposito, also finished first on beam (9.90). Chelsea Kroll finished the sweep for the Wolverines with a title on floor (9.90). Deiley finished fourth in the all-around competition with a 38.525 behind Simpson.

 

The Huskers began the competition on the uneven bars and were led by Simpson and Esposito, who each tied for third place with the Wolverines’ Deiley with a 9.80. Sniatynski and Williams followed with scores of 9.75 to tie for sixth place with Kara Rosella of Michigan.  Freshman Kylee Johnson debuted with a 9.625. The Huskers finished the uneven bars rotation with a 48.800.

 

In the second event, Nebraska hit five of six vaults, as Carter led the Huskers with a 9.750 on the event to tie for fifth place with Michigan’s Bruck. Simpson placed sixth with a 9.725. Freshman Brittney Williams began her collegiate career with a solid 9.70, and Esposito scored a 9.625. Sniatynski added a 9.325, bringing NU to a 48.150 on vault.

 

Parsons bounced back after a shaky start on vault to perform a strong 9.85 routine on the floor exercise, and she placed third to lead the team. Esposito followed with a 9.800, tying for fourth place with Nellie Kippley of Michgan, and Saas earned fifth place with a 9.750. Carter finished sixth with a 9.700 to give the Huskers a 48.625 on floor.

 

The Huskers capped the evening on the balance beam, and Esposito scored a 9.850 to earn second-place honors behind Bruck (9.900). Parsons and Sniatynski tied for third place on the event with a 9.825, and Simpson scored a 9.800 to tie with Michigan’s Chelsea Kroll. Unfortunately the Huskers were forced to count a fall on beam after Carter and Saas both fell during their routines. The team went on to finish with an event total of 48.650.

 

The Huskers continue their road schedule with a meet at No. 1 UCLA next Monday, Jan. 17, in Los Angeles at Pauley Pavilion.  Action is set to begin at 4 p.m. (CST).