Scaffidi Captures All-Around in Husker Win

Ames, Iowa ? The No. 7 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team kicked off the 2008 season with a 193.50-192.475 win over IowaState at Hilton Coliseum Friday night. In front of a crowd of 1,680 fans, the Huskers’ vault lineup shined in the victory, and NU saw three competitors earn four individual event titles.

 

Sophomore Maria Scaffidi starred for the Huskers, capturing the first individual crown of her career with a first-place finish in the all-around from a career-high score of 39.00. Scaffidi also finished second on beam with a career-best score of 9.85, third on bars (9.675) and fifth on vault (9.80).

 

“Maria was very deserving of her first all-around title,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “She went out there are hit solidly on all four events. She was clean and looked like a confident leader for our team.”

 

Senior Emily Parsons took individual titles on vault (9.90) and floor (9.875), while senior Desire’ Sniatynski finished first on bars (9.75).

 

With an injury-depleted squad to open the year, the Huskers competed just seven gymnasts from their 12-member roster.

 

“I am really proud of the effort this group gave tonight,” Kendig said. “We had a lot of things going on in the week leading up to this meet with injuries and such, but every day we worked through it. We had some mistakes typical of a first meet tonight, but our team hung in there, stayed focused and pulled out a win. It’s a tribute to their tenacity and their ability to not give up with some bumps in the road.”

 

Nebraska opened the meet on bars, where Sniatynski led the way with a 9.75 to take her first event title of the year. Scaffidi followed with a 9.675 for third, and sophomore Kathryn Howard added a 9.60 to place fifth. With just five competitors in the lineup, the Huskers were forced to count two mistakes with Parsons’ 9.275 and freshman Brittnee Habbib’s 9.125. NU finished with an event score of 47.425, behind IowaState’s first-rotation vault total of 48.60.

 

The Huskers bounced back with a strong showing on vault, where Parsons set the pace with a 9.90 to take her first event title of the season. Freshman Erin Davis made her collegiate debut with a score of 9.85 for second-place honors, while Scaffidi and junior Tricia Woo were close behind with a pair of 9.80s for fifth. Sniatynski contributed a 9.675, and NU wrapped up vault with a 49.025 and a running score of 96.45 to take the lead over ISU (96.125).

 

Nebraska continued on to the third rotation on floor, where Parsons was the team’s top performer with a 9.875 to take her second title of the night. Sniatynski followed with a 9.75 for second, and Woo put up a third-place 9.70. Scaffidi and Habbib earned scores of 9.675 and 9.475, respectively, and NU wrapped up floor with a 48.475 and a running score of 144.925 to the Cyclones’ 145.00 heading into the final event.

 

The Huskers capped the evening on beam, where Habbib and Scaffidi stole the show for NU, matching scores of 9.85 for a runner-up finish. Parsons placed third with a 9.825, and Howard added a 9.75. Woo also scored a 9.30 for her routine, and NU finished with an event score of 48.575 and a final team total of 193.50 to seal the win over Iowa State, which totaled a 192.475 on the night.

 

“We had some incredible routines tonight, and IowaState was a formidable opponent to open the season with,” Kendig said. “Our freshmen were especially key to our success. Brittnee Habbib did all four events her first time out, and I couldn’t be prouder of the job Erin Davis did on vault. Everybody rallied and made this win happen. With what I saw tonight in their hunger to get out there and improve, I’m excited for the potential of this Sunday’s meet.”

 

Nebraska returns to the DevaneyCenter for their first home meet of the season this Sunday, Jan. 13, with No. 18 Arizona State. Competition is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

 

Name                                     Vault      Bars       Beam     Floor       All-Around

Erin Davis                             9.85        ---            ---            ---            ---

Brittnee Habbib                    9.575      9.125      9.85        9.475      38.025

Kathryn Howard                   ---            9.60        9.75        8.90        ---

Sabrina Long                       ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Vanessa Meloche               ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Emily Parsons                     9.90        9.275      9.825      9.875      38.875

Stephanie Seich                  ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Maria Scaffidi                        9.80        9.675      9.85        9.675      39.00

Desire’ Sniatynski               9.675      9.75        9.275      9.75        38.45

Kylie Stone                            ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Brittney Williams                  ---            ---            ---            ---            ---

Tricia Woo                             9.80        ---            9.30        9.70        ---

 

Team Scores                       Vault      Bars       Beam     Floor       Total

Nebraska                       49.025   47.425   48.575   48.475   193.50

Iowa State                             48.60      47.525   48.875   47.475   192.475

 

All-Around: 1. Maria Scaffidi, NU (39.00); 2. Nikki Dilbert, ISU (38.90); 3. Emily Parsons, NU (38.875); 4. Jasmine Thompson, ISU (38.55); 5. Desire' Sniatynski, NU (38.45)

 

Vault: 1. Emily Parsons, NU (9.90); 2. Erin Davis, NU (9.85); 3. Katie Sweetin, ISU (9.825), Jasmine Thompson, ISU (9.825); 5. Tricia Woo, NU (9.80), Maria Scaffidi, NU (9.80)

 

Bars: 1. Desire’ Sniatynski, NU (9.75); 2. Nikki Dilbert, ISU (9.725); 3. Maria Scaffidi, NU (9.675); 4. Jacquelyn Holmes, ISU (9.625); 5. Kathryn Howard, NU (9.60), Ceilia Maccani, ISU (9.60)

 

Beam: 1. Jasmine Thompson, ISU (9.875); 2. Maria Scaffidi, NU (9.85), Brittnee Habbib, NU (9.85); 4. Emily Parsons, NU (9.825); 5. Katie Sweetin, ISU (9.80)

 

Floor: 1. Emily Parsons, NU (9.875); 2. Desire’ Sniatynski, NU (9.75); 3. Tricia Woo, NU (9.70), Nikki Dilbert, ISU (9.70), Melanie Tham, ISU (9.70)