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Fort Worth, Texas--The No. 9 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team concluded the 2015 season on the first day of the NCAA Championships, finishing in fourth place at the evening semifinal with a team total of 196.675.
After a shaky start on beam, NU was just shy of earning back-to-back berths into the Super Six team finals the following day as Oklahoma, Alabama and Auburn advanced. Junior Hollie Blanske led the way for the Big Red, picking up first-team All-America honors on floor after her second-place 9.925 routine, earning a slot in the floor event finals on Sunday. She also grabbed second-team awards in the all-around with her eighth-place 39.325 in Seminfinal II. Senior Jessie DeZiel closed out her career with a sixth-place all-around finish, garnering first-team All-American honors. She also earned second-team accolades on vault with a 9.90 and fifth place finish, barely missing out a spot in vault finals. Sophomore Ashley Lambert picked up her first career honors, being named to the second-team on floor with an overall score of 9.90.
The Huskers opened up to a shaky start to the championships on beam with a 48.875. Freshman duo Danielle Breen and Grace Williams led the way with matching 9.80 marks, followed by a pair of 9.775s from DeZiel and Blanske. Senior Jennifer Lauer overcame an early jump series wobble to earn a 9.725, while Jennie Laeng notched a respectable 9.70.
Alabama got things started on floor and put up a huge 49.40 to lead after one rotation. LSU started on vault and was close behind with a 49.375, as Auburn began the meet on bars to deliver a 49.25. Oregon State and Oklahoma each had byes.
Nebraska had a bye in the second rotation as competition resumed. Oklahoma came out booming on floor with a 49.475. Alabama went big on vault to grab a 49.475, as Auburn made its meet debut and tallied a 49.225 on bars. Auburn delivered a seamless beam performance to earn a 49.275. LSU went to a bye.
NU tumbled its way to floor for the third rotation, putting up a big 49.425 with help from Blanske’s 9.925 mark. Lambert performed her way to a big 9.90 to follow, as DeZiel and Lauer added a duo of 9.875s. Senior Desire’ Stephens posted a 9.85 for her seamless performance, followed by a 9.80 from Williams.
After three rotations the Huskers sat in fifth place with a running total of 98.300. Oklahoma led the way after three with a huge 99.025, with Alabama in second (98.875) and LSU in third (98.800). Auburn sat in fourth place with a 98.525, while Oregon State acquired the sixth place spot with a 98.100.
Nebraska traveled to vault for the fourth rotation of the evening, where the team notched a 49.200 to stay in the game. DeZiel set the tone for the Big Red with her stuck 9.90 vault, followed by a 9.875 from sophomore Ariel Martin for her stuck effort. Lambert pulled off a nice 9.825 for her vault, as Laeng and Stephens closed out the rotation with a pair 9.80s.
Oklahoma and Oregon State each had byes in the fourth rotation as the meet continued on. Auburn tumbled to a 49.375 on floor, while Alabama achieved a 49.275 on bars. LSU struggled on beam and was forced to count two falls, garnering a 48.275.
As NU and LSU had byes in the fifth rotation, Auburn concluded its competition on vault with a 49.225. The Tigers finished the meet with a 197.075. Alabama closed out its meet on beam, putting together a 48.95 to finish with a team total of 197.100. Oklahoma went 49.50 on bars, as Oregon State posted a 48.775 on floor.
In the final rotation of the semifinal, Nebraska tallied a 49.175 on bars to close out the meet. DeZiel paved the way with her 9.875 score, while Williams was close behind with a 9.85. Laeng and Blanske came together to notch a 9.825 each, as Stephens notched a 9.80 for her performance. Breen battled to a 9.75 to seal the rotation.
The Huskers finished with a 196.675, but it was not enough to claim a spot in the Super Six team finals, placing fourth overall. After a dramatic finish, Oklahoma claimed the top spot in the semifinal despite counting a fall on beam, delivering a 197.400 team score. Alabama took second with a 197.100, as Auburn’s score held for third with a 197.075. LSU slid into the fifth place spot with a 196.550, while Oregon State took sixth with a 195.875.
Florida’s Kytra Hunter and UCLA’s Samantha Peszek tied for the all-around crown with a 39.600, as the two gymnasts’ scores held from the afternoon semifinal session.
In all, three Huskers earned All-American honors for their efforts in the semifinal. Senior Jessie DeZiel added to her list of impressive accolades by capturing second-team All-America awards on vault (fifth place) and first-team honors in the all-around (sixth place). Sophomore Ashley Lambert grabbed her first All-America honors in her career, placing on the second-team for floor for her sixth-place finish.
Junior Hollie Blanske garnered first-team All-America honors on floor after tying for second place with her 9.925. She will represent the Huskers in the individual event finals on floor as NU’s sole competitor. The Oak Grove, Minn., native also grabbed second-team accolades in the all-around.
Tomorrow’s Super Six finals will feature Florida, Utah, Stanford, Oklahoma, Alabama and Auburn to vie for the team title. Meet action is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT at the Fort Worth Convention Center.
| Name | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | All-Around |
| Hollie Blanske | 9.80 | 9.825 | 9.775 | 9.925 | 39.325 |
| Danielle Breen | -- | 9.75 | 9.80 | -- | -- |
| Jessie DeZiel | 9.90 | 9.875 | 9.775 | 9.875 | 39.425 |
| Ashley Lambert | 9.825 | -- | -- | 9.90 | -- |
| Jennie Laeng | 9.80 | 9.825 | 9.70 | -- | -- |
| Jennifer Lauer | -- | -- | 9.725 | 9.875 | -- |
| Amanda Lauer | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Ariel Martin | 9.875 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Madison McConkey | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Kamerin Moore | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Desire' Stephens | 9.80 | 9.80 | -- | 9.85 | -- |
| Grace Williams | -- | 9.85 | 9.80 | 9.80 | -- |
Team scores for Semifinal II:
1. Oklahoma- 197.400
2. Alabama- 197.100
3. Auburn- 197.075
4. Nebraska- 196.675
5. LSU- 196.550
6. Oregon State- 195.875
All-America Awards:
- Hollie Blanske: First-Team (Floor); Second-Team (AA)
- Jessie DeZiel: First-Team (AA); Second-Team (Vault)
- Ashley Lambert: Second-Team (Floor)