No. 5 Huskers Capture Masters Classic Title

Lincoln ? The fifth-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team captured its 11th consecutive team title at the annual Masters Classic on Sunday in front of 1,617 fans at the BobDevaneySportsCenter. The Huskers scored their highest total team score since the 2000 competition, as they posted a 196.725 win over No. 10 Denver (194.45), No. 20 Auburn (194.05) and Kentucky (194.90).

 

NU improved to 6-4 on the season, scoring 49.0 or better on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise, and setting or tying six season-high scores. With the win, the Huskers also extended their home unbeaten streak in the DevaneyCenter to 55 regular-season competitions.

 

Senior Richelle Simpson claimed her fourth vault title of the season with a 9.975, as well as her third floor title (9.95), en route to a first-place finish for her third all-around title (39.625). Simpson also placed third on bars and second on beam, scoring a 9.85 on each event.

 

Freshman Emily Parsons won her first balance beam title of 2005 by tying her season-high 9.90 on the event, while finishing second in the all-around (39.45). The St. Charles, Mo., native placed second on vault (9.925), second on floor (9.925) and 13th on bars (9.70). In addition, sophomore Kristi Esposito won the Huskers’ fourth individual event title of the afternoon by scoring a 9.875 on bars. The first-place finish on bars was Esposito’s third of the year.

 

“It means so much to have Richelle and Emily in our program. The one-two punch they’re providing has been outstanding,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “Emily is such a rock on beam. She has such big skills on there, and she’s capable of doing what she did today every time out. Richelle had great routines on floor and vault tonight. We needed it coming down the stretch, and there is no one better to have out there than Richelle Simpson.”

 

The Huskers began the afternoon on vault, where they were led by Simpson’s 9.975 and Parsons’ 9.925. Sophomore Stephanie Carter followed with a 9.875 for third, and sophomore Michele Zabawa added a 9.775 to finish in a tie for ninth. Freshmen Brittney Williams and Desire Sniatynski each scored a 9.725 to tie for 13th, giving NU a team score of 49.275.

 

Nebraska then moved on to the uneven bars, finding a solid performance from Esposito with a 9.875. Simpson finished second with a 9.85, and Sniatynski and Zabawa each added a 9.80 to tie for fourth. Williams scored a 9.775 to finish seventh, and Parsons’ 9.70 put her in a tie for 13th. The Huskers finished bars with a 49.10.

 

NU experienced a shaky start on balance beam, but Parsons won her first beam title of the year with a 9.90 to lead the team. Simpson and Esposito tied for second (9.85), while Zabawa and senior Jamie Saas added a 9.70 and 9.65, respectively. Despite finishing beam with a 48.95, the Huskers headed into their final rotation on floor with a strong one-point lead over the competition.

 

The Huskers capped the competition on the floor exercise, where they scored a season-high total of 49.40. Simpson won the individual event title with a season high 9.95, and Parsons tied her season-best 9.925 to finish second. Williams scored a 9.85 to tie for fourth with Carter, whose marks on floor tied her season high. Saas tied her own season high with a 9.825 to finish eighth, while Esposito added a 9.825.

 

“We had some great performances from a lot of our athletes tonight,” Kendig said. “We’re counting on a lot of people, and they’re coming through. This Masters Classic featured some tremendous competition, and I’m proud of the way our team competed here. Seeing the way this group is developing is exciting, and I am so encouraged by how great this team can become. This was truly a team effort tonight.”
  

The Huskers continue their month-long homestand with a triangular against No. 19 Minnesota and Air Force Sunday, March 6 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.