No. 1 Huskers Defeat Gophers, Falcons

Lincoln ? The No. 1 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team posted a 196.15 to capture a win over No. 19 Minnesota (194.85) and Air Force (188.875) on Sunday in front of 1,324 fans at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.

 

The Huskers improved to 8-4 on the season, scoring 49.0 or better on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. NU’s win extended its home unbeaten streak in the DevaneyCenter to 56 regular-season competitions.

 

Senior Richelle Simpson led the way for Nebraska, claiming her fifth vault title of the season (9.90), as well as her first on bars (9.875) and third on beam (9.875). Freshman Emily Parsons matched Simpson’s 9.90 on vault to tie for first, while freshman Desire’ Sniatynski won her first career floor exercise title with a 9.875.

 

“It was pretty special to see Desire’ win the floor title today. What a confidence booster,” Nebraska Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “Desire’ is capable of going out and helping us on all four for us. She has worked so hard to get ready, and it’s nice to see good things to people who work as hard as she does.”

 

NU began the afternoon on vault, where they found solid performances from Simpson and Parsons, who tied for first on the event with a 9.90 each. The shared title was the fifth vault crown for Simpson and the fourth for Parsons. Sophomore Michele Zabawa tied her season high with a 9.825 to place third, and sophomore Stephanie Carter scored a 9.80 to tie for fourth. Freshman Brittney Williams added a 9.775 for sixth, while Sniatynski tied for seventh (9.725). The Huskers finished vault with a 49.20.

 

Nebraska then continued on to the uneven bars, as Simpson won her first bars title of the season by tying her season high with a 9.875. Sniatynski finished in a tie for second (9.85), and Williams matched her season-best 9.825, as did Zabawa and Esposito, to finish in a three-way tie for fifth. Parsons scored a 9.775 to tie for ninth, and NU ended with a team score of 49.20.

 

The Huskers’ third event came on the balance beam, where Richelle Simpson claimed first-place honors (9.875) for the third time in 2005. Parsons placed second with a 9.825, and Carter followed in sixth (9.725). Zabawa’s 9.675 left her in seventh, and Esposito finished with a 9.60 for 10th. Nebraska finished beam with a 48.70.

 

Sniatynski won her first floor exercise title of the year with a season-best 9.875 to lead NU on the event. Esposito and Williams tied for third with a 9.825 each, and Carter finished seventh (9.80). Freshman Kylee Johnson competed for the first time on floor since the Huskers’ meet at Michigan on Jan. 7, coming back strong with a season-high 9.725. Saas added a 9.70 to round out the Huskers’ floor lineup, giving them an event score of 49.05.

 

“We needed to give Richelle and Emily a break today, so we kept them out of the all-around,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “Floor and vault are the only events that cause a lot more wear and tear on the body, but we kept them on vault because they do so well. The thing that is really important right now is being healthy, and our athletes are in good shape heading into the last few regular-season meets of the season, as well as Big 12 Championships and Regionals.”
  

The Huskers will take on No. 9 Iowa State in their final regular-season home meet next Sunday, March 13 at the BobDevaneySportsCenter. The competition is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

 

Nebraska Results
Vault (49.20)
1T. Richelle Simpson ? 9.90
1T. Emily Parsons ? 9.90
3. Michele Zabawa ? 9.825 (tied season high)
T4. Stephanie Carter ? 9.80
6. Brittney Williams ? 9.775
T7. Desire Sniatynski ? 9.725

 

Uneven Bars (49.20)
1. Richelle Simpson ? 9.875 (tied season high)
T2. Desire Sniatynski ? 9.85
T5. Brittney Williams ? 9.825 (tied season high)
      Michele Zabawa ? 9.825
      Kristi Esposito ? 9.825
T9. Emily Parsons ? 9.775

 

Balance Beam (48.70)
1. Richelle Simpson ? 9.875
2. Emily Parsons ? 9.825
6. Stephanie Carter ? 9.725
7. Michele Zabawa ? 9.675
10. Kristi Esposito ? 9.60
14. Jamie Saas ? 9.325

 

Floor Exercise (49.05)
1. Desire Sniatynski ? 9.875 (season high)
T3. Kristi Esposito ? 9.825
      Brittney Williams ? 9.825
7. Stephanie Carter ? 9.80
11. Kylee Johnson ? 9.725 (season high)
12. Jamie Saas ? 9.70