Huskers Finish Sixth at NCAA Finals

Auburn, Ala. - The Nebraska women's gymnastics team scored 49.0 or higher on all four events but still had to settle for a sixth-place finish in the NCAA Super Six Finals at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum on Friday night.

Freshman Emily Parsons scored a 9.90 or higher on three events, including a 9.95 on floor exercise to lead the Huskers.  The St. Charles, Mo., native added a 9.90 on vault and a 9.90 on balance beam to go along with a 9.80 on uneven bars to power Nebraska. NU Head Coach Dan Kendig said Parsons was just one of the Huskers who shined on Friday night.

“We had a really good meet tonight,” Kendig said. “Every one of our gymnasts did a great job tonight. This was a great finish for our only senior competing tonight (Jamie Saas), and our freshman and sophomore classes were tremendous. They didn’t get intimidated and really came in here and stayed with our mission of trying to hit routines. I’m very proud of our performance tonight.”

The Huskers opened the evening with a 49.0 team score on vault, led by Parsons' 9.90 on the event. Stephanie Carter added a 9.80, while Desire' Sniatynski and Michele Zabawa each contributed scores of 9.775. Kristi Esposito and Brittney Williams rounded out the Husker performance on the event with 9.75 scores.

After sitting out the second rotation with a bye, the Huskers moved onto the uneven bars, where they put together a solid score of 49.150.  Sniatynski led the Huskers on bars, as the freshman produced a 9.90. Zabawa and Esposito each added strong efforts with scores of 9.85, while Parsons contributed a 9.80 and Williams rounded out the scoring with a 9.75.

Nebraska moved to the balance beam and again strung together solid routines for a team score of 49.075.  Parsons produced the Huskers' top score with a stellar 9.90, while senior Jamie Saas added a 9.85 on the event.  Sniatynski contributed a 9.80, while Esposito pitched in a 9.775 and Carter rounded out the Huskers' effort on the beam with a 9.75.

NU finished the event with its best event score of the night with a 49.200 on the floor exercise.  Although it was Nebraska's best event, it also ranked as the sixth-best performance by the six teams in the competition. Parsons powered the Husker effort with a sizzling 9.95, while Esposito added a 9.85. Carter and Williams each contributed scores of 9.825, while Saas rounded out NU's scoring on the event with a 9.75.

“This season was rewarding in so many ways,” Kendig said. “They are a fun team to coach and be around. These freshmen and sophomores are really going to carry this team, and they’ll take these championship experiences to make the team stronger next year. They are young and will only continue to improve. I’m excited about taking a little break and getting right back in the gym for next season.”

Georgia claimed the team title by scoring 49.350 or higher on all four events to finish at 197.825. The Gym Dogs held off Southeastern Conference counterpart Alabama, despite the Crimson Tide producing the top two event scores of the night.

Alabama scored a 49.625 on vault, including a perfect 10.0 from Ashley Miles on the event.  The Crimson Tide added a 49.600 on the floor exercise, including a second perfect 10.0 from Miles. But a 48.850 team score on the balance beam doomed Alabama and gave Georgia the margin of victory, as the Gym Dogs scored a 49.350 on the event.

Utah finished third with a 197.250, while UCLA took fourth with a 197.125 team score and Michigan finished fifth at 196.575.

Nebraska earned a trip to the Super Six by finishing third during the first session of qualifying at the 12-team NCAA Championships on Thursday afternoon.  The Huskers advanced to the Super Six with the sixth-best qualifying score, after entering the meet ranked No. 6 nationally.

Esposito and Parsons will represent the Huskers in tomorrow individual event finals at 7 p.m. A native of St. Charles, Mo., Parsons earned a spot in the floor exercise finals, while also garnering second-team All-America honors on vault, balance beam and the all-around. Esposito, a native of Slidell, La., will compete in the balance beam finals, where she was named a first-team All-American in 2004.