Women's GymnasticsFebruary 17, 2007

Parsons Notches First 10 in Husker Win

Name: Nebraska at NC State, West Virginia, William & Mary, GWU
Start: 2007-02-18T00:00:00.000000Z
Location: Raleigh, N.C.

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Raleigh, N.C. ? Junior Emily Parsons vaulted her way to the first 10.0 score of her career in No. 6 Nebraska’s first-place finish at North Carolina State’s Hearts Invitational Saturday night. In front of 3,241 fans at NCSU’s Reynolds Coliseum, the Huskers posted a season-high 196.975 to take first over West Virginia (194.70), NC State (194.55), George Washington (191.175) and William & Mary (186.225). NU, which improves to 11-3 on the season, scored season highs on vault (49.425), beam (49.20) and floor (49.475) and swept the individual event titles.

Parsons, who competed as an all-arounder for the first time this season, claimed four individual crowns with first-place finishes on vault (10.0), beam (9.90), floor (9.95) and the all-around (39.525). Senior Michele Zabawa and sophomore Kylie Stone tied for the bars title with matching scores of 9.825. Stone also notched a career-high all-around mark with a 39.425 for second-place honors, while junior Desire’ Sniatynski finished third with a total of 39.30.

“I am so proud of this team and excited about the performance every gymnast gave tonight,” head coach Dan Kendig said. “We put together a meet where we didn’t have to count a single mistake. We started out by trying a couple of new things on bars, which will ultimately pay big dividends down the road.

"Our focus all week has been on beam, and Danna (Durante) has done a fabulous job of getting this team prepared to do its best. It sure paid off tonight because we went 7-for-7 on beam. Floor and vault tonight were easily the best team efforts we’ve given all year. You could just see the momentum building with every routine, and all the work we’ve put in on presentation, performance and clean final tumbling passes is really starting to show.”

Nebraska opened the meet on bars, where Stone and Zabawa set the pace with matching scores of 9.825 to tie for first-place honors. Sniatynski posted a 9.80 to finish fourth, and junior Brittney Williams followed up with a 9.75 mark to place sixth. Parsons contributed a 9.675, bringing NU to an event score of 48.875.

Following a bye, the Huskers moved on to beam and were led by Parsons’ first-place 9.90. Stone earned a career-high 9.85 for second, while Sniatynski and sophomore Tricia Woo landed in a tie for third with marks of 9.825. Freshman Kathryn Howard added a sixth-place 9.80, giving Nebraska a rotation total of 49.20, which tied its season best, and a running score of 98.075 at the halfway point.

NU continued on to the third rotation on floor, where Parsons led the way with a score of 9.95 to secure the event title and tie her career best on the event for the sixth time. Stone’s performance earned her a 9.90 to finish second, while Sniatynski, Woo and senior Stephanie Carter tallied marks of 9.875 to tie for fourth. With the 9.875, Carter and Sniatynski both tied their career highs, and Woo matched her season best. The Huskers finished the rotation with a 49.475 ? their highest team floor mark since a 49.45 at Arkansas on March 19, 2005 ? and a running score of 147.55.

Nebraska capped the evening on vault, where Parsons captured the first perfect 10.0 score of her career to grab the event title. Zabawa took a 9.90 for her performance to finish second and tie her career best, and Carter added a 9.875 for third-place honors. Stone notched a 9.85 for fifth, and Sniatynski earned a 9.80 to take ninth. NU finished with an event score of 49.425 and a team total of 196.975 on the night.

“We are excited to get home for four of our next five weekends,” Kendig said. “Our Masters Classic coming up will feature some phenomenal athletes and outstanding competition in Stanford, LSU and NC State. It’s going to be one incredible competition, and the biggest thing we can do is continue to perform like this. We need a loud, supportive crowd, and we want to make next week a premiere event that is one to remember for all who attend.”

Nebraska returns home to the Bob Devaney Sports Center for the Masters Classic next Sunday, Feb. 25. The annual competition, which features No. 3 Stanford, No. 12 LSU and NC State, is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

Name Vault Bars Beam Floor All-Around

Stephanie Carter 9.875 9.875

Kathryn Howard 9.80

Sabrina Long

Vanessa Meloche

Molly Ohnoutka

Emily Parsons 10.0 9.675 9.90 9.95 39.525

Maria Scaffidi 9.775 9.15 9.775 9.775 38.475

Desire’ Sniatynski 9.80 9.80 9.825 9.875 39.30

Kylie Stone 9.85 9.825 9.85 9.90 39.425

Brittney Williams 9.75

Tricia Woo 9.825 9.875