Huskers Take Second at Super Six Challenge

Baton Rouge, La. ? The No. 8 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team posted a 194.10 on Friday night to finish second among six top-16 teams at the Super Six Challenge at LSU’s PeteMaravichAssemblyCenter. Competing in front of a crowd of 3,636, the Huskers earned a 49.0 or better on vault and the uneven bars to finish just behind No. 4 Alabama (194.25) and ahead of No. 10 Iowa State (194.05), No. 7 LSU (193.90), No. 15 Auburn (193.675) and No. 16 Missouri (192.70).

 

Sophomore Emily Parsons earned the vault title with a score of 9.95 to tie her career high, while junior Michele Zabawa and redshirt freshman Vanessa Meloche shared the crown on the uneven bars. Parsons also finished second in the all-around (39.225) to LSU’s April Burkholder (39.375), and Stephanie Carter earned sixth-place honors (38.775). Sophomore Desire’ Sniatynski came in 10th (38.55).

 

“Emily (Parsons) started out successfully where she ended last year, and I thought she gave us a great start,” Nebraska Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “This was Stephanie Carter’s first meet competing all-around in her career, and right off she was in the top six at the Super Six Challenge. We’re going to see more and more out of her this season. Desire’ was right there in all four events, too. She had a good showing here at LSU, and I’m anxious for Sunday’s practice to get back to work.”

 

NU began the competition on vault, where Parsons led the way with a score of 9.95 to tie Alabama’s Ashley Miles for the title. Carterfollowed with a 9.875 to finish third, while Zabawaand Sniatynski each posted a 9.75. Sophomore Brittney Williams and freshman Sabrina Long rounded out the lineup, as they scored 9.675 and 9.60, respectively, to bring the Huskers to a 49.0 finish on the event. The Huskers led the competition after the first rotation.

 

Following a second-rotation bye, Nebraska moved on to the uneven bars. Redshirt freshman Vanessa Meloche, who made her competitive debut, and Zabawa boosted the Huskers by each scoring 9.875 to share the event title, while Sniatynski posted a 9.8 to finish in a five-way tie for fifth. Williams showed the same consistency from her freshman season with a 9.80, and Parsons added a 9.75. Carter also performed on bars for the first time in her Husker career, scoring a 9.625. NU finished the event with a 49.15.

 

“Seeing Vanessa (Meloche) do so well tonight on bars was a real tribute to her perseverance and desire to return to competing in this sport,” Kendig said. “I could say the same thing about our freshman performers tonight. They fought hard and finished strong for us.”

 

The Huskers faltered on the balance beam with a team score of 47.625, but were led by Parsons’ mark of 9.775 that left her in a tie for third place with Brittany Magee of Alabama. Carter added a 9.60, and freshman Tricia Woo, in her first collegiate performance, posted a 9.575. Long scored a 9.375, while Sniatynski earned a score of 9.30. 

 

Nebraska capped the evening on floor exercise, where Parsons was NU’s event leader with a 9.75 for a third-place finish. Carter earned a 9.675, and Long and Woo matched each other with a 9.625. Sniatynski finished with a score of 9.60, and the Huskers finished the event with a 48.30, earning a team total of 194.10.

 

“We started off tonight with six really good vaults, anchored by Emily finishing first,” Kendig said. “We had a great day on bars, and we were off and running. We struggled a little on beam, but it wasn’t for a lack of fight. We didn’t count a fall on beam, just had a few wobbles and misconnections. Sometimes you don’t know what to expect with a first meet. We had some new athletes competing tonight, and I’m encouraged for the rest of the season. We have some great things on the horizon.”

 

Nebraska returns to action next Friday, Jan. 13, with its first home meet of 2006 against No. 6 Michigan. The competition is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the BobDevaneySportsCenter and will feature NU’s “Dollar Days” promotion with $1 admission, $1 hot dogs and $1 Pepsi products.

 

Name                           Vault    Bars     Beam   Floor    A-A

Stephanie Carter            9.875    9.625    9.60      9.675    38.775

Alise Cecchini                                                  

Kylee Johnson                                                 

Sabrina Long                9.60                  9.375    9.625

Vanessa Meloche                      9.875               

Dani Millis                                                        

Emily Parsons               9.95      9.75      9.775    9.75      39.225

Desire’ Sniatynski          9.75      9.85      9.30      9.60      38.55

Kylie Stone                                                      

Brittney Williams            9.675    9.80                  9.025

Tricia Woo                                            9.575    9.625

Michele Zabawa            9.75      9.875    8.625   

 

Team Scores              Vault    Bars     Beam   Floor    Total

#4 Alabama                  49.05    48.60    48.30    48.30    194.25

#8 Nebraska

                      49.0      49.15    47.625  48.30    194.10

#10 Iowa State              48.925  48.95    47.825  48.35    194.05

#7 LSU                         48.85    49.075  49.075  47.85    193.90

#15 Auburn                   48.675  49.025  48.0      47.975  193.675

#16 Missouri                     48.425  48.675  47.875  47.725  192.70