Stone Earns All-Around Title as Nebraska falls to No. 14 Denver

Denver, Colo. ? The No. 11 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team kicked off the 2009 season with a 194.125-194.350 loss to No. 14 Denver at Hamilton Gymnasium Saturday night. In front of a packed house and guest of honor, 2008 Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin, the Huskers took the leading honors in the all-around and led Denver in both vault and beam.?

Junior Kylie Stone led the Huskers with a first-place all-around finish (38.975). She also tied for first on floor (9.825).?

"Coming in, I was a little bit nervous," Head Coach Dan Kendig said. "She warmed up and did a great job. I'm proud of her, I'm proud of what she did. She has a huge heart and refuses to give into things. The thing I like about her is that the focus is on the team, not on her. I really love coaching team people, and that is her. She did a terrific job. Lora did a great job too. She is just going to get better and better, what a way to start out."

The Huskers were also given a strong showing from freshmen Lora Evenstad and Kassandra Nathe. Evenstad took second on vault (9.80) and Nathe placed second in the all-around (38.875) and fourth on beam (9.80).

"I'm really proud of Kassandra," Kendig said. "She just had a different look to her today, I think mentally, she was ready. She is going to continue to get better. I am proud of her."

Nebraska opened the night on bars, with Lora Evenstad making her collegiate debut, scoring a 9.75 and taking fifth. Kylie Stone added a solid performace and scored a 9.80 to tie for first. Brittney Williams followed Stone with a strong performance of 9.775 and a fourth-place finish. Kassandra Nathe?also made her collegiate debut with a score of 9.675. Nebraska finished with an event score of 48.050 finishing behind Denver's 48.80. ?

NU then moved to vault for the second rotation. Nathe led off with a 9.725. Evenstad competed in her second event of the night, notching a 9.80 and placing second. Erin Davis added a 9.825 to take her first event title of the year as Tricia Woo contributed a ?9.725. Stone rounded out the event with a 9.775. The Huskers ended the second rotation with a 48.850 and a running score of 96.90 behind Denver's 97.150.?

Nebraska followed on floor with Davis and a 9.775 to grant her a fourth-place finish. Nathe rounded out her performance with a 9.675 and Evenstad finished with a 9.625. Stone posted a strong 9.825 in her performance and tied for first with Denver's Amanda Johanson. Woo finished off the rotation with a 9.750, giving Nebraska a team score of 145.550 to the Pioneer's 145.650 heading into the final event.?

In the final rotation, the Huskers headed to beam where Kathryn Howard started off the event taking third with a solid 9.850. Habbib finished her evening with a 9.350 and Fyffe marked a 9.450. Nathe stepped up with a 9.80 in a fourth-place finish, and Stone put up a 9.575. Woo headlined the rotation for Nebraska with a 9.90 as she tied for first-place. Nebraska finished with an event score of 48.575 totaling a team score of 194.125 compared to Denver's 194.350.?

"We sitll have a lot to work on, but that always is the case after the first meet," Kendig said. "We're going to get better as a team as we go on. This team has worked really hard and they will even work harder when we get back home. We have the potential to do much better next weekend. I can't wait to get into the gym and get going."?

The Huskers head to Ames, Iowa next week to face Big 12 rival Iowa State. Competition is set to begin at 7 p.m.?

?

Name???????????????????????????????????? Vault????? Bars?????? Beam???? Floor?????? All-Around

Erin Davis??????????? ??????????? ?????? ?9.825?? ? ?--- ? ? ? ? ?--- ? ? ? ?? ?9.775 ? ? ? ? ? ---

Lora Evenstad??????????????????? ?? ? ?9.80?? ? ?9.750?????? ---????????? 9.625??????????? ---

Kristin Fyffe?????????????????? ????????? 9.50?? ? ? --- ? ? ? ? ?9.450??????????--- ? ? ? ??? ???---

Brittnee Habbib??????????????????????? ---??????????9.025??????9.350???? ?8.60?????????? ---

Kathryn Howard???????????????????????--- ? ? ? ? ?9.050???????9.850??????????--- ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ---

Kassandra Nathe???????????????????? 9.725 ? ? 9.675????? 9.80??????? 9.675 ? ? ? ?38.875

Kailey Ryan???????????????????????????? ---?? ? ? ? ?--- ? ? ? ???--- ? ??????? ? ---???????????? ---

Maria Scaffidi????????????????? ?? ? ? ??--- ? ? ? ? ? ---?????????--- ? ? ? ???? ---????????????? ??---

Stephanie Seich ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? --- ? ? ? ? ? ---?????????--- ? ? ? ???? --- ? ? ??????? ?? ---

Claire Stingley?????????????? ?????????? ---?? ? ??? ??---????????---?????????? ??--- ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?---

Kylie Stone??????????????????????????? ??9.775?? ? ? 9.80????9.575?????? 9.825 ? ? ? ?38.975

Brittney Williams????????????????? ?? ??--- ? ? ? ? ? 9.775 ? ? ?--- ? ? ? ? ?--- ? ? ? ? ? ? ?---

Tricia Woo???????????????????????????? ?9.725?? ? ? ?--- ? ? ? ? ? 9.90 ? ? ? 9.750???????? ---

??

Team Scores?????????????????????? Vault????? Bars?????? Beam???? Floor?????? Total

Nebraska???????????????????????????? ??48.850?? ?48.050 ?? 48.575??? 48.650??????194.125

Denver?????????????????????????? ?????? 48.80 ? ? ?48.350 ?? 48.50??????48.70??? ???194.350

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All Around: 1. Kylie Stone, Nebraska (38.975); 2. Kassandra Nathe, Nebraska (38.875); 3. Brianna Springer, Denver (38.600)

?Vault:?1. Erin Davis, Nebraska (9.825); 2. Louise Mercer, Denver (9.80); 2. Brianna Springer, Denver (9.80); 2. kelley Hennigan, Denver (9.80); 5. Lora Evenstad, Nebraska (9.80); 6. Kylie Stone, Nebraska (9.775)

Bars:?1. Louise Mercer, Nebraska (9.80); 1. Nikki Brown, Denver (9.80); 1. Kylie Stone, Nebraska (9.80); 4. Brittney Williams, Nebraska (9.775); 5. Amanda Johanson, Denver (9.750); 5. Lora Evenstad, Nebraska (9.750)

Beam:?1. Tricia Woo, Nebraska (9.90); 1. Jessica Lopez, Denver (9.90); 3. Kathryn Howard, Nebraska (9.850); 4. Lauren Garan, Denver (9.80); 4. Kassandra Nathe, Nebraska (9.80); 6. Brianna Springer, Denver (9.675); 6. Ellen McCarthy, Denver (9.675)

Floor:?1. Amanda Johanson, Denver (9.825); 1. Kylie Stone, Nebraska (9.825); 3. Brianna Springer, Denver (9.80); 4. Erin Davis, Nebraska (9.775); 5. Tricia Woo, Nebraska (9.750); 6. Kristina Coccia, Denver (9.70)