Three Huskers Qualify for NCAA Championships

Gainesville, Fla. ? Seniors Emily Parsons and Desire' Sniatynski and junior Tricia Woo qualified as individuals for the NCAA Championships, as No. 15 Nebraska finished third as a team at the NCAA Southeast Regional at the University of Florida on Saturday night. In front of 6,032 fans, NU (13-9) posted a score of 196.10 to finish third behind Florida (197.525) and UCLA (196.625) at UF's O'Connell Center. The Huskers also placed ahead of West Virginia (194.825), North CarolinaState (193.825) and North Carolina (194.125).

 

Parsons and Sniatynski will compete as all-arounders, while Woo will perform as a beam and floor specialist at the national championship in Athens, Ga., April 24-26.

 

“I’m proud of all three of our individual qualifiers, and they’ve earned this with the consistent seasons they’ve had,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “They did what they needed to do today and showed tremendous confidence. For Emily and Desire’, this is especially nice to see for them as seniors because it is a tribute to their careers. With Tricia, she was amazing and really sold her beam and floor routines. All three have a lot of pride and ability, and we are eager to see them contend at the NCAA Championships.”

 

 

Nebraska’s four all-arounders had a solid showing, with Parsons leading the way with a 39.45 for fourth. Sniatynski took ninth with a 39.225, followed by Woo in 11th (39.15) and sophomore Maria Scaffidi in 12th (39.10).

 

NU opened the competition on vault, where Parsons led the way with a score of 9.925 to finish third. Woo and freshman Erin Davis followed with matching 9.85s for 10th, while Sniatynski added a 9.775. Scaffidi rounded out the lineup with a 9.75, bringing the Huskers to a 49.10 on the event.

 

Nebraska then moved on to bars, and Sniatynski posted a 9.85 to finish eighth. Freshman Brittnee Habbib followed with a 9.825, while Scaffidi and Parsons tied with scores of 9.775. Sophomore Kathryn Howard contributed a 9.65, helping the Huskers to a 48.875 bars total and a running score of 97.975 at the halfway point.

 

NU continued on to beam, where Tricia Woo delivered a 9.875 to claim top honors. Parsons posted a 9.85 for fifth, followed by Scaffidi’s 9.775. Sniatynski posted a 9.75, and Howard earned a 9.625 to help the Huskers to a 48.875 and a running score of 146.85.

 

Following a bye, Nebraska capped the evening on floor in the sixth rotation to score a 49.25, but it was not enough to overcome second-place UCLA (196.625). Parsons and Woo tied for the event title with a pair of 9.90s, while Sniatynski finished seventh with a 9.85. Davis and Scaffidi put up two 9.80 scores, and Nebraska finished the night with a third-place regional finish.

 

With its third-place showing, NU did not advance to the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time in nine years. The Huskers complete the year with a 13-9 season record.

 

“Our team came in here today and didn’t miss a routine,” Kendig said. “I’m proud of the job they did, but I’m sad for our individual qualifieris that they won’t be able to compete with their team at nationals. That’s tough. But this team fought all year long, and we have nothing to hang our head about. We worked hard today, and I’m proud of the way they fought and responded all year long.”

 

Nebraska will be represented by Woo and Parsons at the NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga., April 24-26. Tickets are sold out for the three-day competition at the University of Georgia’s Stegeman Coliseum.

 

 

Name                                     Vault      Bars       Beam     Floor       All-Around

Erin Davis                             9.825                                      9.80       

Brittnee Habbib                                    9.825      9.60        9.675     

Kathryn Howard                                   9.65        9.625                     

Sabrina Long                       9.60                                                       

Vanessa Meloche                                                                                              

Emily Parsons                     9.925      9.775      9.85        9.90        39.45     

Stephanie Seich                                                                                 

Maria Scaffidi                        9.75        9.775      9.775      9.80        39.10

Desire’ Sniatynski               9.775      9.85        9.75        9.85        39.225

Kylie Stone                                                                                           

Brittney Williams                                                                                 

Tricia Woo                             9.825      9.55        9.875      9.90        39.15     

 

Team                                     Vault      Bars       Beam     Floor       Total

Nebraska                      49.10      48.875   48.875   49.25      196.10

Florida                          49.45      49.425   49.225   49.425   197.525

UCLA                                     49.275   49.375   49.10      48.875   196.625

NC State                                48.675   48.225   48.075   48.85      193.825

West Virginia                  49.05      48.75      48.325   48.60      194.825

North Carolina                48.375   47.425   47.90      48.125   191.825