Huskers Advance to NCAA Championships

Seattle Wash. – The ninth ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team posted a score of 196.975 Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Arena to finish second at the NCAA Seattle Regional and earn a berth to the 2014 NCAA Championships in Birmingham, Ala. April 18-20. 

The Huskers scored a 49.000 or better on all four events to secure the 22nd NCAA Championships appearance in school history. Nebraska finished second behind Alabama (197.550) and ahead of Denver (195.625), Washington (195.550), Boise State (195.275) and BYU (194.650).

Emily Wong and Jessie DeZiel both earned event titles on the Day. DeZiel won her second consecutive Regional vault title with a score of 9.95. Wong collected both the bars (9.95) and floor (9.90) titles en-route to her 10th all-around crown this season with a score of 39.625.

Nebraska opened the meet on floor notching a 49.125 led by Wong’s 9.90 score. Blanske recorded a 9.85 while Ariel Martin and Jamie Schleppenbach both delivered 9.80 performances. Desire’ Stephens rounded out the floor lineup with a 9.775 mark.

The Big Red took to vault catapulting to a 49.475 team score. DeZiel fueled NU notching a 9.95, while the duo of Wong and Stephens tacked on 9.90 efforts. This marks Stephens new career-high score for the event. Blanske powered to a 9.875 and Martin rounded out the solid vault lineup with a 9.85.

After each team had competed on two events, Nebraska sat in second place behind Alabama 98.625-98.600, heading into their third event on bars. Boise State closely trailed at 98.375, with Denver (97.925), Washington (97.675) and BYU (97.125) rounding out the team scores.

Following their second bye of the evening the Huskers moved to bars soaring to a 49.300 team score. Wong led NU in the anchor spot matching her career-high score of 9.95 to take top honors. DeZiel also tied her best mark on the event sticking a 9.925. Freshman Laeng produced a strong routine tabbing a 9.825, while Stephens and Blanske rounded out the lineup putting up 9.80 scores.

NU clinched their second-place finish by posting a 49.075 on beam. Wong continued her impressive night by posting a 9.875 score along side teammate Laeng. DeZiel added a 9.825, while A. Lauer (9.775) and Blanske (9.725) rounded out the lineup.

The Huskers will join 11 other teams at the NCAA Championships on April 18-20 in Birmingham Ala. Action from the Birmingham Convention Center will begin with semifinals on Friday, April 18, with two sessions. The top three teams from each session will advance to the Super Six on Saturday, April 19. Individual event finals will take place on Sunday afternoon. Check back to Huskers.com to find out which session the Huskers will participate in for the semifinals. A complete list of results is below. 

Name	Vault	Bars		Beam		Floor		All-Around
Jordyn Beck	---	---		---		---		---
Hollie Blanske	9.875	9.80		9.725		9.85		39.250
Jessie DeZiel	9.95	9.925		9.825		9.725		39.425
Jennie Laeng	9.80	9.825		9.875		---
Ashley Lambert	---	---		---		---		---
Amanda Lauer	---	9.775		9.775		---		---
Jennifer Lauer	---	---		---		---		---
Ariel Martin	9.85	---		---		9.80		---
Madison McConkey	---	---		---		---		---
Jamie Schleppenbach	---	---		9.20		9.80		---
Desire' Stephens	9.90	9.80		---		9.775		---
Emily Wong	9.90	9.95		9.875		9.90		39.625
Team	Vault		Bars		Beam		Floor		Total
Nebraska	49.475		49.300		49.075		49.125		196.975
Alabama	49.600		49.300		49.325		49.325		197.550
Boise State	49.075		49.300		48.025		48.875		195.275
Denver	49.000		49.200		48.500		48.925		195.625
BYU	48.825		48.900		48.225		48.700		194.650
Washington	48.875		49.000		48.875		48.800		195.550