Huskers Finish Sixth at NCAA Championships

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Salt Lake City, Utah? The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team posted a score of 195.975 Friday night to finish sixth at the Super Six Finals of the NCAA Championships at the University of Utah. The Huskers, who were making their ninth overall Super Six appearance, closed the year with a record of 26-12 on the season at Utah’s JonM.HuntsmanCenter.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

In front of 9,255 fans, NU finished behind two-time defending NCAA champion Georgia (197.85), Utah (197.25), Florida (197.225), UCLA (196.925) and Stanford (196.825).

 

NU opened the competition on floor, and junior Emily Parsons led the way with a 9.875. Senior Stephanie Carter and junior Desire’ Sniatynski followed with a pair of 9.775 marks, while sophomore Tricia Woo added a 9.75. Freshman Maria Scaffidi contributed a 9.725, helping the Huskers to a 48.90 event score heading into the second rotation behind Florida (49.225), Stanford (49.225) and UCLA (49.10).

 

Nebraska moved on to a commanding vault rotation rotation, scoring a 49.325 with a leading 9.90 from Parsons. Carter earned a 9.875 to close her collegiate career, and senior Michele Zabawa, sophomore Kylie Stone and Sniatynski matched scores of 9.85. Scaffidi added a 9.825, and NU finished with a running score of 98.225, just behind UCLA’s 98.25.

 

At the halfway point, Nebraska’s running score left the team with an uphill battle from sixth place (98.25), behind Utah (98.75), Georgia (98.75), Florida (98.55), Stanford (98.325) and UCLA (98.25). Following their bye, the Huskers continued to bars and were led by Zabawa’s 9.875 and Stone’s score of 9.85. Parsons added a 9.775, while Scaffidi and junior Brittney Williams notched marks of 9.75 and 9.675, respectively. NU finished the event with a 48.925 and headed into the fifth rotation with a running score of 147.15.

 

Nebraska capped the evening on beam, where freshman Kathryn Howard was the team’s leader with a career-best 9.90. Woo, Zabawa and Sniatynski equaled each other with scores of 9.85, which were season bests for Zabawa and Sniatynski. Despite a strong start, the Huskers were forced to count a fall in their total score, as Stone and Parsons both notched 9.375 scores after a fall apiece. Nebraska closed the day with a 48.825 on beam and a sixth-place NCAA finish.

 

“I’m very proud of our team tonight,” head coach Dan Kendig said. “They have worked really hard and accomplished things this year that people didn’t think they could do. I think we learned a lot today, and it will stay in our heads and our hearts to make a difference for next season. We are as good as any team here. Unfortunately, this wasn’t our day. But I feel like the future for Nebraska gymnastics is so bright, and we are excited about the progress we’ve shown and the potential we have for the 2008 season.”

 

Three Huskers ? Parsons, Zabawa and Woo ? will compete in Saturday night’s NCAA Individual Event Finals at the Huntsman Center at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through the University of Utah ticket office at (801) 581-8849 or at www.utahutes.com.

 

 

Name                                     Vault      Bars       Beam     Floor       All-Around

Stephanie Carter                 9.875                                      9.775

Kathryn Howard                                                   9.90

Sabrina Long                      

Vanessa Meloche                              

Molly Ohnoutka                   

Emily Parsons                     9.90        9.775      9.375      9.875

Maria Scaffidi                        9.825      9.75                       9.725

Desire’ Sniatynski               9.85        9.20         9.85        9.775

Kylie Stone                            9.85        9.85        9.375      9.225

Brittney Williams                                  9.675

Tricia Woo                                                             9.85        9.75

Michele Zabawa                  9.85        9.875      9.85

 

Team                                     Vault      Bars       Beam     Floor       All-Around

Nebraska                      49.325   48.925   48.825   48.90      195.975

Georgia                         49.525   49.425   49.325   49.575   197.85

Florida                          49.40      49.275   49.225   49.325   197.225

Stanford                                 49.225   49.10      49.25      49.25      196.825

UCLA                                     49.40      49.10      49.15      49.275   196.925

Utah                             49.375   49.10      49.40      49.375   197.25