Huskers Sweep Top Honors, Cruise Past Huskies

Seattle, Wash. – The No. 15 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team kicked off the 2010 season with a 195.70-193.45 win over No. 25 Washington at Bank of America Arena Friday night. The Huskers hit 49.00 or better on beam and floor and swept individual honors on all four events.

“We didn’t count a major mistake tonight,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “Our goal was to get as close to 196.00 as possible and we did that.”

Junior Maria Scaffidi earned the second all-around title of her career, posting a solid 39.00 as she starred for the Huskers. Scaffidi also took top honors on floor, tying her career-high mark of 9.875.

“A lot of the things we have been working on paid off tonight,” Kendig said. “We were mentally tough; if our first girl missed, the others carried the load the rest of the way. We feel very strongly about those things as a team. We hit 22 of 24 routines our first time out; we feel pretty good about it.”

Senior Kylie Stone took individual honors on vault (9.85), while she tied Kathryn Howard and Brittnee Habbib for the title on beam (9.85). Habbib also earned the first bars crown of her career after receiving a score of 9.85.

Nebraska opened the meet on bars, whereHabbibcaptured the event crown and led the Huskers with a 9.85. This marked the first event title for Habbib on bars. Lora Evenstad followed in second with a solid score of 9.825. Stoneadded a 9.75, while Howardposted a 9.675 and Scaffidihit a 9.65. NU finished with an event score of 48.75, ahead Washington’s first-rotation vault total of 48.225.

The Huskers moved to vault as Stone took the event crown for Nebraska with a score of 9.85. Evenstad and sophomore Erin Davis each received a 9.825 for second-place in the event. Maddie Steinauer led off for NU, making her Husker debut with a 9.75.Scaffidi also added a 9.75 of her own. NU wrapped up vault with a 49.00 and a running score of 97.75 to lead Washington (96.125).

Nebraska continued on to the third rotation on floor, where Scaffidi earned the floor title by leading NU to tie her career-high of 9.875. Evenstad continued her impressive night with a 9.85, giving her the third score of 9.80 or better on the night. Davis hit a 9.775, and Habbib received a 9.725, as she kicked-off the event for the Huskers. Nebraska had to count a step out of bounds on Steinauer’s routine, giving her a 9.675. NU wrapped up floor with a 48.90 and a running score of 146.65 to the Huskies’ 144.60 heading into the final event.

The Huskers capped the evening on beam, as they swept top honors with Howard, Habbib and Stone all hitting a 9.85. Steinauer posted a 9.775 to take fourth, and Scaffidi ended her night with a 9.725. NU finished with an event score of 49.05 and a final team total of 195.70 to top Washington, which totaled a 193.45 on the night.

Nebraska returns to the Devaney Center for their first home meet of the season this Friday, Jan. 15, with Minnesota and Illinois. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

“This was a good start, but there is a lot that has to happen yet,” Kendig said. “We’re pleased and happy with this start to the season; but we need the crowd behind us more than ever with three home meets in a row coming up.”

 

Name                      Vault                    Bars                   Beam                   Floor

Hannah Bower            ---                        ---                         ---                        ---

Erin Davis                 9.825                    ---                         ---                        9.775

Lora Evenstad            9.825                   9.825                   ---                        9.85

Kristin Fyffe                ---                        ---                         8.30                      ---

Janelle Giblin              ---                         ---                         ---                        ---

Brittnee Habbib            ---                        9.85                        9.85                   9.725

Kathryn Howard            ---                        9.675                     9.85                    ---

Kassandra Nathe         ---                        9.65                        ---                        ---

Maria Scaffidi              9.75                      9.65                        9.725                 9.875

Brittany Skinner            9.725                    ---                            ---                        9.10

Maddie Steinauer            9.75                   ---                         9.775                        9.675

Kylie Stone                   ---                        9.75                        9.85                        ----

  

Team Score               Vault             Bars                     Beam              Floor         Total

Nebraska                    49.00             48.75                    49.05               48.90       195.70

Washington                 48.225            47.90                    48.475            48.85        193.45