No. 10 Nebraska Travels to Missouri, Hosts No. 5 Oklahoma Sunday

• Nebraska Head Coach: Dan Kendig (18th Year)
• Current Team Record: 3-3 (2-0 Big 12)
• 2011 High Score: 195.60 (at Metroplex Challenge, 1/29/11)
• 2010 NCAA Finish: 7th (196.175)

The 10th-ranked Nebraska women's gymnastics team travels to Columbia, Mo. to face Missouri for the second-straight week. Competition is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Hearnes Center. Nebraska leads the all-time series with the Tigers, 68-6. NU saw Missouri last week at the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Nebraska came in second with a 195.60 and Missouri took fourth, posting a 194.35.

Nebraska returns home on Sunday, Feb. 6 to host Oklahoma at the Devaney Center at 2 p.m. Nebraska leads the all-time series with OU, 60-23. NU last met Oklahoma at the NCAA Preliminary Session l on April 22, 2010. Nebraska came in fourth (196.175) and Oklahoma took third (196.55).

Nebraska travels to Ann Arbor, Mich. on Feb. 13 to take on Michigan and Stanford in a tri-meet. The competition will start at 12 p.m. (CST).

UNL Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day, Wristband Giveaway

The first 25 UNL faculty and staff at the Huskers' meet on Sunday, Feb. 6 will receive a free Adidas Nebraska gymnastics T-shirt and a slice of Valentino's pizza. In addition, fans in attendance will receive a free Nebraska wristband while supplies last.

Scouting the Competition: Missouri

• Head Coach: Rob Drass (12th Year)
• 2011 Record: 1-5
• 2011 High Score: 194.925 (vs. SEMO, 1/15/11)
• 2010 NCAA Finish: 12th

A Glance at Missouri...

• Missouri is ranked 22nd in the team vault standings (48.688) and is 20th in the team bars rankings (48.731). Junior Mary Burke is tied for 22nd on beam, averaging a 9.813.
• Burke is one of only three gymnasts in program history to have been named Gymnast of the Week three or more times during her career.
• Nebraska met Missouri last week at the Metroplex Challenge. NU came in second with a 195.60 and Missouri took fourth with a 194.35.

 Nebraska's Competition Order at Missouri

Rotation                        Missouri                        Nebraska                     

1                                      Vault                             Bars                

2                                      Bars                             Vault                

3                                      Beam                            Floor               

4                                      Floor                            Beam               

Scouting the Competition: No. 5 Oklahoma

• Head Coach: K.J. Kindler
• 2011 Record: 7-0
• 2011 High Score: 196.175 (3 times, last at Washington, 1/28/11)
• 2010 NCAA Finish: 2nd

 A Glance at Oklahoma...

• OU checked in at No. 5 in the national rankings this week. The Sooners are also sixth on vault (49.07), 15th on bars (48.785) and fourth on beam (49.025) and floor (48.98).
• Junior Sara Stone is ranked 12th on vault (9.875), while sophomore Natasha Kelley is third on beam (9.855). Freshman Taylor Spears is 11th on beam (9.838) and sophomore Kayla Nowak is ninth on floor (9.87).
• Oklahoma enters Sunday's meet with four wins over ranked opponents, beating No. 16 Washington last weekend (196.175-195.10).

Nebraska's Competition Order vs. Oklahoma

Rotation                        Nebraska                      Oklahoma                    

1                                       Vault                             Bars                

2                                       Bars                             Vault                

3                                       Beam                            Floor               

4                                       Floor                            Beam               

Huskers in the National Ranks

The Nebraska women's gymnastics team maintained its No. 10 national ranking this week in the latest GymInfo poll. The poll, which is calculated by total season average, also ranks NU second in the South Central region and in the Big 12 Conference. In addition, the Huskers are ranked fifth nationally in team vault scoring (49.088), 12th on bars (48.831), 23rd on beam (48.388) and are 14th on floor (48.881).

Individually, senior Erin Davis is second on vault, with an average of 9.925. Davis took the vault title for the second straight week at the Metroplex Challenge last Saturday. After making her all-around debut for Nebraska at the Metroplex Challenge, junior Lora Evenstad is ranked 12th in the all-around (39.25), tied for 22nd on vault (9.844) and tied for 11th on floor (9.863). Sophomore Janelle Giblin is 25th in the all-around (39.075) and tied for 19th on bars (9.831).

Huskers See Strong Performances in 2011

The Nebraska women's gymnastics team has entered the 2011 season with the potential for national success and the goal to capture the Big 12 championship. With four returning All-Americans, as well as a total of nine returning letterwinners and four newcomers, the Huskers once again should rank high among the nation's elite collegiate programs. Head Coach Dan Kendig, who enters his 18th season at NU, Associate Head Coach Danna Durante and Assistant Coach Tim Garrison are poised to guide Nebraska to its 15th NCAA Championships appearance.

"We have a great group and a great team," Kendig said. "They are very talented and strong athletes and a fun group to work with. They walk in every day excited about what will be thrown at them. The training is hard, the work ethic is there and they guard against going through the motions. Wherever this team wants to go, they'll be able to accomplish it."

All-Americans Shine for Nebraska

Although Nebraska faces a schedule filled with the country's best teams, the Huskers own an impressive roster of their own, supplemented by four returning All-Americans. Junior Lora Evenstad and sophomore Brittany Skinner both earned first-team accolades on vault at the 2010 NCAA Championships, while sophomore Janelle Giblin and junior Kassandra Nathe captured second-team honors on bars.

Kendig Builds One of Nation's Top Programs at Nebraska

Head Coach Dan Kendig is the all-time winningest coach in the 34 years of Nebraska women's gymnastics history. In 18 seasons at Nebraska, Kendig is 394-151-4 overall and 270-59-2 in regular-season meets. Kendig is in his 28th year of coaching and owns a career record of 507-263-5.

An eight-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year, Kendig has guided the Huskers to 11 conference championships and three straight regional championships from 2000 to 2002. He was most recently named the 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year.

He has also led Nebraska to 13 NCAA Championship appearances in the past 16 seasons, including NCAA Super Six Finals appearances in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Kendig was honored as the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003, a year in which the Huskers finished fourth nationally.

Under Kendig's guidance in 2010, Nebraska finished with a 23-8 overall record. The Huskers took seventh at the 2010 NCAA Championships in Gainesville, Fla., in their 27th straight NCAA postseason appearance. Five of Kendig's gymnasts --Lora Evenstad (V), Brittany Skinner (V), Janelle Giblin (UB), Kathryn Howard (UB) and Kassandra Nathe (UB) -- earned All-America honors.

Kendig is assisted by associate head coach Danna Durante, who is in her ninth season with Nebraska, and assistant coach Tim Garrison, who is in his fifth year on the Husker staff.

Huskers Garner Conference Honors

Junior Lora Evenstad and Senior Erin Davis were honored as Big 12 Gymnast of the Week and Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday. The award marks the first Gymnast of the Week distinction of Evenstad's career after picking up an Event Specialist award last season. With Davis' honor, she collects her fourth overall Event Specialist award, second-straight of the year.

Evenstad made her all-around debut for the Huskers at the four-team Metroplex Challenge last Saturday. The junior hit a season-high score on vault (9.875) and bars (9.85) while posting a career-high mark on beam (9.725) en route to an impressive 39.275 mark in the all-around. She is currently tied for 22nd on the vault nationally, 11th on the floor and 12th in the all-around. NU finished second in the Challenge, behind No. 6 Alabama and ahead of No. 25 LSU and Missouri.

Davis picks up her second consecutive Event Specialist of the Week honor after claiming the vault title for the second week in a row. The senior hit a 9.925, while also recording a floor score of 9.80, a season-high. Davis is currently second in the nation on vault.

Giblin, Evenstad Debut as All-Arounders

Sophomore All-American Janelle Giblin debuted as an all-arounder for Nebraska against Iowa State, totaling a score of 39.025. It marked the first all-around performance of her career and made her the first all-arounder to compete for the Huskers in 2011. The native of San Ramon, Calif., posted a career-high score of 9.85 on vault against Utah on Jan. 22. She added career-highs of 9.875 on bars, 9.70 on beam, 9.80 on floor and 39.125 in the all-around at the Metroplex Challenge. She is currently ranked  25th in the all-around and tied at 19th on bars.

Junior All-American Lora Evenstad made her all-around debut at the Metroplex Challenge, posting an impressive score of 39.275. She notched season highs on vault (9.875) and bars (9.85) and a career high on beam (9.775). She is currently ranked 12th in the all-around, tied for 22nd on vault and 11th on floor. 

NU Looks to Seniors for Leadership, Experience

Erin Davis debuted with a bang for the Huskers in the third week of competition against Utah. The senior from Round Rock, Texas hit a season-high 9.925 on vault. She was named the Co-Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week for her efforts. Davis earned the vault crown for the second straight week, hitting a 9.925 at the Metroplex Challenge, she also posted a 9.80 on floor. Davis was named Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week for the second-straight week and holds the No. 2 spot nationally on the event.

Brittnee Habbib opened her senior year by leading the Huskers in the season opener as she took second on bars with a score of 9.85 as the Huskers took on Florida on Jan. 7. Habbib notched her first event title of the season with a 9.825 on beam at Iowa State, tying for first-place in the event. She posted a season-high-tying 9.85 on bars against Utah, tying for third in the event.

Maria Scaffidi returned to NU's lineup as a strong and focused all-around competitor. She returned from injury in 2010 and didn't miss a beat, totaling six individual titles in 2010, including four in the all-around. She has competed on bars, beam and floor for the Huskers in 2011, hitting a season high against Utah of 9.825. She added a season-high 9.675 on floor and a career-high 9.85 on beam at the Metroplex Challenge on Jan. 29.

Maddie Steinauer opened her senior campaign by hitting a 9.75 on vault, a 9.80 on beam and a 9.825 on floor for the Huskers against Florida on Jan. 7. She tied her career highs on both beam and floor against the Gators. She earned a mark of 9.825 on beam at Iowa State, tying for the event crown. Steinauer posted a season-high 9.825 on vault against Utah on Jan. 22.

Evenstad, Juniors Supply Spark

All-American Lora Evenstad opened the season by taking fourth on floor against Florida with a team-high score of 9.875. She also posted a 9.80 on vault and a 9.75 on bars. At Iowa State on Jan. 14, she captured the floor title with a score of 9.875. She took second on vault, notching a 9.85. As the Huskers took on Utah on Jan. 22, Evenstad hit a 9.85 on vault and took the floor crown with a season-high 9.90. She made her all-around debut at the Metroplex Challenge, posting an impressive score of 39.275. She notched season highs on vault (9.875) and bars (9.85) and a career high on beam (9.775). She was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 1 and is currently ranked 12th in the all-around, tied for 22nd on vault and 11th on floor. 

Kassandra Nathe returned as a steady and indispensible gymnast for NU. A second-team All-American on bars, she tallied a career-high 9.85 on bars and 9.875 on beam, en route to posting two individual event titles as a sophomore.

Kaitlin Reid joined the Huskers after spending two seasons at Cal State Fullerton, where she was a bars and beam specialist for the Titans. The Huskers will look for steady improvement from her as she competes for a spot in NU's lineups.

Sophomores Set Themselves Apart

All-American Janelle Giblin opened her sophomore campaign by debuting on two new events for the Huskers, competing on vault and beam. Giblin debuted as an all-arounder for Nebraska against Iowa State, totaling a career-high score of 39.025. It marked the first all-around performance of her career and made her the first all-arounder to compete for the Huskers in 2011. Giblin is 22nd in the national all-around rankings. The native of San Ramon, Calif., posted a career-high score of 9.85 on vault against Utah on Jan. 22. She added career-highs of 9.875 on bars, 9.70 on beam, 9.80 on floor and 39.125 in the all-around at the Metroplex Challenge. She is currently ranked  25th in the all-around and tied at 19th on bars.

First-Team All-American Skinner received marks of 9.775 on vault, 9.75 on bars and 9.625 on beam as NU took on Florida on Jan. 7. She earned the bars title at Iowa State with a season-high 9.825. Skinner hit a season high on vault, notching a 9.80, against Utah on Jan. 22. Skinner hit a season-high 9.85 on vault and 9.675 on beam at the Metroplex Challenge on Jan. 29.

Freshmen Provide Solid Contributions

Nebraska welcomed three freshmen to its roster in 2011: Deanna Barmore, Jamie Schleppenbach and Emily Wong. All three freshmen have provided strong contributions for the Huskers in their first collegiate meets.

Barmore, a native of Omaha, Neb., competed for Coach Barb Bottieri at Nebraska Gold Gymnastics in Omaha and was a four-time national qualifier.  She contributed on NU's vault and beam lineups against the Gators on Jan. 7. She notched a career-high 9.725 on vault at Iowa State on Jan. 14.

Schleppenbach came to Nebraska from the Nebraska School of Gymnastics in Lincoln. She took second in the all-around at the 2009 Level 10 Region IV Championships, while placing fifth in the all-around at the 2010 Region IV Championships. Schleppenbach aided the Huskers on vault and floor in her first collegiate meet at Florida, hitting a 9.75 and 9.65, respectively. She captured her first event title at Iowa State with a 9.875 on vault. Schleppenbach also hit a 9.775 on floor for NU.  She posted or tied career highs on every event against Utah on Jan. 22, hitting a 9.875 on vault, a 9.075 on beam and a 9.775 on floor.

Wong is also a Level 10 product from Red River Valley Gymnastics in Grand Forks, N.D. She was the North Dakota state all-around champion in 2008 and 2009, in addition to being the North Dakota vault, bars, beam and floor champion in 2009. Wong proved to be very impressive in her Husker debut, tallying a 9.675 on bars, 9.775 on beam and a 9.80 on floor.  At Iowa State on Jan. 14, she earned a share of the beam title with a mark of 9.825. She also posted a 9.775 on floor. Wong hit a career-high 9.80 on bars against Utah on Jan 22 and came in third on beam after scoring a 9.80.