No. 2 Huskers Roll Past No. 10 ISU

Lincoln ? The No. 2 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team posted a season-high 197.10 to avenge a February loss to No. 10 Iowa State, earning a win over the Cyclones (196.275) on Sunday in front of 2,547 fans at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.

 

The Huskers improved to 9-4 on the season, scoring a 49.0 or better on all four events to extend NU’s home unbeaten streak in the DevaneyCenter to 57 regular-season competitions. In addition to outscoring the Cyclones on every event, Nebraska swept all five individual event titles and set or tied 13 season- or career-high marks.

 

Senior Richelle Simpson shined in her final regular-season home appearance for the Huskers, capturing her fourth all-around title of the year with a 39.625. The Toronto, Ontario, native placed first on vault (9.925) and floor (9.925) while also finishing second on beam (9.90) and third on bars (9.875).

 

“Richelle was lights out today. She’s just like clockwork,” Nebraska Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “She was solid on vault, and her beam was wonderful. Her floor was the best I’ve seen all year. I am so proud of her winning the all-around on Senior Day. I’m proud of this entire team.”

 

Freshman Emily Parsons finished fifth in the all-around competition while also tying Simpson for the vault and floor titles. Sophomore Michele Zabawa and freshman Desire’ Sniatynski tied for first on uneven bars with a 9.90 on each event, and sophomore Kristi Esposito scored a career-high 9.95 to win the balance beam title.

 

NU began the competition on vault, where Simpson and Parsons each scored a 9.925 to tie for first on the event. The title was Simpson’s sixth first-place finish on vault this year, and Parsons’ fifth of the season. Sophomore Stephanie Carter followed with a 9.85 to finish third, and Zabawa’s 9.825 tied her season high and left her in a three-way tie for fourth. Sniatynski added a 9.75 to place ninth, and freshman Brittney Williams scored a 9.70 for 10th. Nebraska finished the event with a 49.275.

 

The Huskers then scored a season-high 49.375 on the uneven bars and were led by Zabawa and Sniatynski, who tied for the event title with a 9.90. Zabawa’s score was a season best for her, while Sniatynski tied her own season high with a 9.90. Simpson finished third (9.875), and Esposito and tied for fifth with a 9.85. Williams matched Esposito with her own season-high 9.85, and Parsons tied for eighth-place honors with a 9.80.  

 

Nebraska moved on to the balance beam for its third event of the dual, and Esposito set the pace with a career-high 9.95. Simpson added a 9.90 to place second, and Carter followed with a 9.825 to tie her season best for third. Zabawa scored a 9.80 to tie for fifth, and senior Jamie Saas’ 9.60 put her in 10th, while Parsons suffered a fall to earn a 9.275. NU completed beam with a 49.075 and headed into the final rotation with a solid lead over the Cyclones.

 

The Huskers capped the afternoon on floor exercise, where Simpson and Parsons turned in stellar performances. The duo each earned a 9.925 to tie for the event title. Parsons’ 9.925 tied her season high and gave the St. Charles, Mo., native her sixth floor title of the season, while Simpson’s score brought her to her fourth first-place finish on the event in 2005. Carter scored a 9.85 to tie her season-high mark and matched Esposito for sixth-place honors. Saas added a 9.825 to tie her best mark of the year, and Williams finished 12th with a 9.80. Nebraska sealed the win over ISU with a 49.375 on floor.

 

“I was really pleased with our performances and scores today,” Kendig said. “Our athletes targeted this meet all week with a little payback in mind. Our bars routines were all right on today, and that was top to bottom the best we’ve done all year. This next meet in Fayetteville (Ark.) will be a great preview of what we can expect from our team heading into the Big 12 Championships.”
  

The Huskers will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on No. 15 Arkansas for their final regular-season meet, a quadrangular with the Razorbacks, No. 5 UCLA and No. 11 Oregon State, Saturday, March 20. The competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

 

Nebraska-Only Results

Vault (49.275)

T1. Richelle Simpson ? 9.925

Emily Parsons ? 9.925
Stephanie Carter ? 9.85

T5. Michele Zabawa ? 9.825 (tied season high)

10. Desire’ Snitaynski ? 9.75

11. Brittney Williams ? 9.70

 

Uneven Bars (49.375) (season high)

            T1. Michele Zabawa ? 9.90 (tied season high)

                  Desire’ Sniatynski ? 9.90 (tied season high)

            T3. Richelle Simpson ? 9.875 (tied season high)

            T5. Brittney Williams ? 9.85 (season high)

                  Kristi Esposito ? 9.85

            T8. Emily Parsons ? 9.80 (tied season high)

 

Balance Beam (49.075)

1.       Kristi Esposito ? 9.95 (career high)

2.       Richelle Simpson ? 9.90

3.       Stephanie Carter ? 9.825 (tied season high)

T5. Michele Zabawa ? 9.80

10. Jamie Saas ? 9.60

11. Emily Parsons ? 9.275

 

Floor Exercise (49.375)

            T1. Richelle Simpson ? 9.925

                  Emily Parsons ? 9.925 (tied season high)

            T6. Kristi Esposito ? 9.85

                  Stephanie Carter ? 9.85 (tied season high)

            T9. Jamie Saas ? 9.825 (tied season high)

            12. Brittney Williams ? 9.80

 

All-Around

1.       Richelle Simpson ? 39.625

5.   Emily Parsons ? 38.925

 

Final: Nebraska 197.100 (season high)

 

*Today’s 197.10 ties Nebraska’s 10th-highest home score at the DevaneyCenter. The Huskers last scored a 197.10 vs. OhioState on Feb. 15, 2004.

*Kristi Esposito’s 9.95 on beam not only set a career high for the sophomore, but also placed her in a tie for seventh on Nebraska’s all-time individual beam charts. The last Husker to score a 9.95 on the event was Tami Harris vs. Iowa State on March 14, 2004.

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