No. 6 Huskers Tie Michigan in Home Opener

Women's GymnasticsJanuary 13, 2006

No. 6 Huskers Tie Michigan in Home Opener

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Lincoln ? Behind a career night from sophomore Emily Parsons, the No. 6 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team posted a season-high score of 195.675 to tie No. 5 Michigan Friday night in front of 2,916 fans at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.

The Huskers moved to 4-1-1 on the season, scoring a 49.0 or better on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise, to overcome a deficit heading into the final rotation. The tie stretched Nebraska’s home unbeaten streak at the DevaneyCenter to 58 meets, as the Huskers have won every regular-season competition in their home arena since the 1993 Masters Classic with the exception of a tie with IowaState in 2004.

Parsons claimed four out of five individual event titles, as she broke her career-high all-around score with a 39.625 to finish first. She captured the vault (9.90), beam (9.925) and floor (9.95) titles and bettered her previous all-around best of 39.55 at last year’s NCAA Super Six Finals.

Fellow sophomore Desire’ Sniatynski also set a new career best of her own in the all-around, placing second (39.20) along with another second-place finish on bars (9.90). Junior Stephanie Carter, who tied for the vault title with Parsons with a 9.90, made her second career all-around appearance, earning a 39.10 to finish fourth.

“Emily had a great routine on every event tonight,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “She’s consistently hitting her routines, and she was there when we needed her. Our three all-arounders all did a tremendous job tonight, and it just proves the work they put in at the gym is really paying off.”

NU began the competition on vault, where Carter and Parsons each scored a 9.90 to tie for first on the event. The title was Parsons’ second first-place finish on vault in as many meets, while it marked Carter’s first event crown of her career. Sophomore Desire’ Sniatynski followed with a 9.80 to finish fourth, and junior Michele Zabawa’s 9.775 left her in fifth. Freshman Sabrina Long added a 9.75 to place ninth, and Nebraska finished the event with a 49.05 to trail Michigan, which opened with a 49.225 on the uneven bars.

The Huskers then scored a 49.05 on the uneven bars and were led by Sniatynski, who tied for the second place with a 9.90, trailing Michigan’s Becky Benard, who won with a 9.95. Zabawa and Parsons each scored a 9.85 to tie for fourth, while sophomore Brittney Williams added a 9.775. Carter improved her career high on the event with a 9.70, bringing NU to a team score of 49.05, as NU edged past Michigan, 98.10-97.85 at the halfway point.

Nebraska moved on to the balance beam for its third event of the dual, and Parsons set the pace with the team’s highest beam score of the season, scoring a career-best 9.95 to take first. Tricia Woo added a 9.90 to finish third and Sniatynski followed with a 9.75 to place sixth. Despite a 9.75 by Carter, the Huskers were forced to count a fall, as they trailed the Wolverines, 146.75-146.575, entering the final rotation.

The Huskers capped the evening on floor exercise, where Parsons turned in a stellar performance, matching her career high with a 9.95 to earn her third event title of the competition. Woo took home runner-up honors with a season-high score of 9.925 to finish second, while Carter added a 9.775 to land in fifth place. Sniatynski (9.75), and Sabrina Long (9.70) also turned in solid efforts, as NU scored a season best of 49.075 on the event despite having only five competitors. The competition came down to the final routine of the evening, as Linsdsey Bruck’s score of 9.90 not only earned her runner-up honors but sent the teams home in a deadlock.

“Our team did a great job tonight,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “They came in here with us putting some pressure on them right from the get-go. We had a five competitors on vault and floor, and they responded by going over a 49.0 on both. This was a total group effort tonight, and we’re going to continue to see improvement as the season progresses.

“The crowd was a huge factor for us,” Kendig continued. “I think everyone really enjoyed themselves, and they couldn’t have seen a better meet. We have such respect for the University of Michigan, and we really tend to bring out the best in each other. It transpires into great competition every time we’re on the floor together.”

The Huskers will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to take on No. 4 Utah next Friday, Jan. 20 at the HuntsamCenter. Competition is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m central time.

Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around

Stephanie Carter 9.90 9.70 9.725 9.775 39.10

Alise Cecchini

Kylee Johnson

Sabrina Long 9.675 8.70 9.70

Vanessa Meloche 9.675

Dani Millis

Emily Parsons 9.90 9.85 9.925 9.95 39.625

Desire’ Sniatynski 9.80 9.90 9.70 9.75 39.20

Kylie Stone

Brittney Williams 9.775

Tricia Woo 9.875 9.925