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Fresh off their first victory of the 2015 season, the No. 8 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team will return to the Bob Devaney Sports Center for a Big Ten battle this Saturday, Jan. 17. The Huskers (1-0) are set to face No. 15 Penn State (3-0) at 3 pm. CT for their first conference matchup of the season. This dual will be nationally televised live on the Big Ten Network. Fans unable to attend the meet can also follow free live stats on Huskers.com.
Both teams are heading into the weekend with perfect records after their opening weekends and both hope to clench their first conference win of the season. Penn State topped the field of four last weekend as they posted a score of 194.675. New Hampshire finished second with a tally of 193.45, Rutgers was third 191.825 and Cornell rounded out the teams with a 186.725. Nebraska leads Penn State all-time in the series, holding a 31-9 edge. The two teams last met at the NCAA Semifinals last April, where Nebraska out lasted Penn State 197.10-194.825 to qualify for the Super Six Finals the following evening.
Scouting Penn State
• Last season Penn State finished fifth at the Big Ten Championships and second at the University Park Regional to advance to the 2014 Championships.
• The Nittany Lions were one of four Big Ten teams to advance to the NCAA Championships.
• Last weekend freshman Briannah Tsang claimed the all-around competition with a score of 39.225; winning two events and placing in two others.
• Freshman Briannah Tsang and senior Krystal Welsch were named to the 2015 Big Ten Gymnast to Watch List along with their No. 6 pre-season ranking.
• Penn State picked up three National event rankings of 14th on vault (48.90), Eighth on bars (49.00) and 13th on floor, (48.80)
Nebraska’s Rotation Order vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Rotation Nebraska Penn State
1. Vault Uneven Bars
2. Uneven Bars Vault
3. Balance Beam Floor Exercise
4. Floor Exercise Balance Beam
Last Time Out: Kendig Enjoys 600th Career Win over Lions
The No. 9 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team swept all four events and the all-around to a 195.30 – 190.55 win over Lindenwood last Friday. The victory marks Head Coach Dan Kendig’s 600th career win. The Huskers performed in front of a packed house of 3,506 fans for the second annual Tumble N’ Rumble combined event with wrestling.
Ashley Lambert took home two event titles on vault (9.875) and floor (9.825) en-route to her first career all-around crown (39.175). Jennie Laeng proved her strength on bars as she captured the event title with a key performance (9.825). Freshman Grace Williams made a strong statement in her first collegiate meet as she earned her first beam crown with a 9.80 mark.
The Huskers kicked off the night on vault, putting up a 49.150 team score. Lambert led the way as she anchored the lineup and stuck a solid 9.875. Junior Hollie Blanske produced a 9.85, while Desire’ Stephens and Laeng both tacked on 9.80 marks. Williams notched a 9.825 in her debut to round out the Huskers action on vault.
The Lions began the evening on bars, claiming a 48.150 team score. Trystien Charles led Lindenwood as she put together a strong routine hitting a 9.775. With one rotation in the books, NU led the way 49.150-48.150.
NU moved to bars for the second rotation tallying a 48.725 score. Laeng paced the Huskers with her incredible routine hitting a 9.825 mark. The duo of Lambert and Blanske both delivered identical scores of 9.75, while freshman Kamerin Moore added on a 9.725 mark.
Lindenwood picked up a score of 47.375 on vault for their second event on the evening. Nebraska held onto its lead 98.875 – 95.525.
In the third rotation, the Big Red took to the balance beam. The team posted a 48.80 led by Williams’ impressive routine (9.80) earning her the beam title. Laeng provided an important performance on beam as she hit a 9.775, while Blanske and Jennifer Lauer both snagged 9.75 scores.
The Lions finished with a 47.775 on floor to put their team total after three rotations at 143.30. With only one even remaining, Nebraska led Lindenwood 146.675 – 143.30.
The Huskers finished the evening on floor, posting a team score of 48.625, fueled by Lambert’s stellar 9.825 performance to take the floor title. Blanske with her new floor routine got the fans to their feet as she tabbed a 9.775 score. Moore chipped in a 9.75, while Williams added a 9.65 mark.
After Lindenwood picked up a 47.25 on beam to finish the night, Nebraska officially earned the 195.30 – 190.55 victory over the Lions.
Huskers Up One Spot to No. 8 After Season Opener
NU moved up one spot to the No. 8 position nationally in the latest GymInfo rankings, release Monday. After opening weekend the Huskers posted a solid team score of 195.30 which pushed them into the new ranking. Oklahoma moves into the No. 1 spot after the opening weekend where they put up an incredible 197.625 mark against No. 12 Arkansas. LSU comes in at the No. 2 spot (197.125), while Florida moves down into the third spot (196.925) and Utah (196.90) and Michigan (196.60) round out the top five teams respectively.
Nebraska also has two Huskers with four performances inside the top-25. Ashley Lambert brings in a 12th ranking in the all-around competition (39.175) while Hollie Blanske comes in right behind with a 39.125 score and 14th ranking. On vault the duo also notches rankings on vault as Lambert comes in at 15 and Blanske 24th.
Up Next for Nebraska
The Huskers will hit the road for the first time this season as they head to New Brunswick, N.J. to face new Big Ten addition Rutgers, Brockport and Southern Connecticut in a quad meet on Saturday, Jan. 24th. The Big Red are set to start competition at 1 p.m. CT. The Scarlet Knights are currently 0-1 in 2015, dropping their opening meet to Penn State. Rutgers will head to Champaign, Ill., this weekend to face Illinois on Saturday before returning home to host Nebraska, Brockport and Southern Connecticut.
Husker Seniors Look to Shine in Final Season
With a young but deep roster this season, the Huskers will count on the leadership and experience of the four seniors to anchor their efforts. Jessie DeZiel, Amanda Lauer, Jennifer Lauer and Desire’ Stephens will look to shine in the gym, classroom and in the community in their final season at Nebraska.
Leading the way for the Huskers is one of Nebraska’s most decorated returners in 2015, Jessie DeZiel will enter her final season at NU hoping to put an exclamation point on a fantastic four-year career. Coming off a remarkable junior season with two All-America honors and another vault regional title, DeZiel will lead the team on all four events. Amanda Lauer is looking to keep her strong momentum going into this season as one of NU’s top beam workers. She will not only provide solid depth on multiple events, but will help lead the team with crucial beam performances. Sister, Jennifer Lauer will look to finish her career at Nebraska on a high note after battling an injury last season. She is set to lead the beam lineup and hopes to contend for a conference title. Desire’ Stephens will look to be a big-time contributor on all four events for the Huskers in her final year. Known as the team’s spark-plug, Stephens expects to finish on a high note.
Juniors Ready to Provide Spark
Nebraska’s junior class returns a duo of the hardest workers on the team with Hollie Blanske and Madison McConkey. One of Nebraska’s top performers in 2014, first-team All-American Hollie Blanske hopes to contend for Big Ten and NCAA titles as a junior. A tremendous athlete, Blanske expects to be a leader in the all-around this season. Madison McConkey provided important depth down the stretch for the Huskers last season and returns to serve as a strong competitor on bars and beam.
Sophomores Prepared to Step-Up
Jennie Laeng, Ashley Lambert and Ariel Martin have provided not only crucial depth but also a spark for the team when needed it the most, these sophomores are ready to step up into important roles this season. Jennie Laeng will carry momentum into this season after a strong finish to her freshman campaign. Laeng will be returning as one of NU’s top bars competitors after earning her way into the all-around competition as a freshman. Ashley Lambert is ready to make a run at all NU lineups this year after contributing solid vault and floor routines in 2014. Lambert coming off an incredible offseason is set to be a spark on the vault and floor. Ariel Martin is poised to be a leading candidate for the Huskers’ bars, vault and floor lineups in her second year with NU. She will return as one of NU’s top vaulters.
Newcomers Await Big Future
The Huskers welcome three freshman to the squad who will all fill important roles with the loss of Emily Wong and Jamie Schleppenbach. Danielle Breen opens her Husker career with hopes of contributing in multiple Nebraska lineups. Breen will get a good look from the NU coaching staff on bars, beam and vault in her freshman season. Kamerin Moore enters her freshman year with a steady set of skills and a work ethic the coaches believe will push her into competitive spots in the Nebraska lineups. Moore will battle upperclassmen for a spot in all event lineups. Grace Williams will see considerable time in many of the Huskers’ lineups this season. The Linden, Mich., native, brings strong experience on many events and has the potential to break into all lineups.
Kendig Builds One of Nation’s Top Programs
Now in his 22nd year at the helm of the Nebraska gymnastics program, Head Coach Dan Kendig is the all-time winningest coach in Nebraska history. Since Kendig arrived at NU, his teams have compiled an outstanding 486-186-4 record. His most recent honor was in 2012 when he earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Huskers to the program’s 22nd conference title.
Kendig has also led the Huskers to 16 NCAA Championship appearances in the past 19 seasons, including Super Six Finals appearances in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2014. Kendig was honored as the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003, a year in which the Huskers finished fourth nationally.