Huskers Pick Up Win at Penn State

University Park, Pa. – Three Huskers won individual event titles as the Nebraska women’s gymnastics team picked up its first Big Ten win of the season, defeating Penn State by a score of 196.150-194.575 Saturday at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa.

Hollie Blanske shared the all-around title with Briannah Tsang from Penn State, scoring 39.300.

“Hollie had a really nice floor routine, a really good beam routine and one of her better vaults,” Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said. “It’s what we’ve come to expect from her, and I’m glad she got a chance to do it in competition.”

Jennie Laeng, last week’s Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Week, picked up her sixth event title of the season, winning uneven bars with a score of 9.875. Grace Williams won her second event title of the season, winning balance beam with a score of 9.925, while Blanske won floor exercise with a 9.875.

Megan Schweihofer led the way for Nebraska on vault, finishing second overall with a 9.80. Blanske and Lambert finished tied for third on the apparatus, with each scoring a 9.775.

“I’m really proud of our energy and how we stayed together on the road,” Kendig said. “We’re looking forward to being home two weeks in a row and building on what we’ve done in the first two weeks.”

Rotation One: The Huskers began the meet on the uneven bars, taking an early lead with a 49.025. Laeng led the way with her 9.875 routine, followed by Blanske and Grace Williams who each hit a 9.80. Danielle Breen and Ashley Lambert both scored a 9.775 for the Big Red.

Penn State posted a vault score of 48.625, and was led by Briannah Tsang with a 9.85. 

Rotation Two: NU moved to vault for its second rotation, and scored 48.625 to maintain a slim lead. Schweihofer led the way with a 9.80, followed by Blanske and Lambert with 9.775s. Williams hit a 9.70 and Laeng scored 9.575 to round out the Husker scoring.

The Nittany Lions scored a 48.975 on bars, led by Sabrina Garcia with a 9.85.

After two rotations, Nebraska led 97.650-97.600

Rotation Three: Nebraska performed on floor exercise for its third rotation, scoring 49.150. Blanske led the way with a 9.875, followed by Lambert’s 9.85. The Big Red got strong floor routines from two freshmen, as both Schweihofer and Sienna Crouse scored 9.825.

PSU rotated to balance beam for its third rotation and scored a 48.150. Tsang and Mason Hosek both hit a 9.825 for the Nittany Lions.

After three rotations, Nebraska led 146.800-145.750. 

Rotation Four: Nebraska ended the evening on balance beam and secured victory with its highest score of the afternoon, a strong 49.350. Williams stuck the landing on her dismount on the way to a 9.925, which tied her career high. Laeng scored a 9.90, while Breen and Blanske both recorded 9.85s as the Huskers took the top four spots.

Penn State’s final rotation was on floor, scoring a 48.825. Tsang scored a 9.85 for PSU to help secure her all-around title.

The Huskers will return to action next Saturday, Jan. 23, for their home opener against Rutgers. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Devaney Center and is a part of this year’s Double Dual, with the Nebraska men’s gymnastics team taking on Air Force simultaneously. Promotional activities include Pepsi Pack the House, where fans can get $1 admission as well as $1 Pepsi products. For tickets, log on to huskers.com/tickets or call 1-800-8-BIG-RED.

Notes

• Nebraska improves its record to 33-9 all-time against Penn State, including a 4-0 mark against the Nittany Lions in the regular season since becoming a member of the Big Ten.
• Jennie Laeng’s bars title was her sixth event title of the season (vault, bars, beam, floor, all-around at Arizona State)
• Laeng tied her career-high with a 9.90 on beam (at NCAA Super Six, April 19, 2014)
• Danielle Breen scored a 9.775 in the first floor routine of her career
• Megan Schweihofer scored a 9.80 on vault and 9.825 on floor, both career-highs for the freshman (vault: 9.725 at Arizona State; floor: 9.775 at Arizona State)
• Sienna Crouse hit a 9.825 on floor in the first routine of her college career, finishing tied for fourth
• Ashley Lambert scored a 9.825, a career high on balance beam
• Danielle Breen tied her career high with a 9.85 on balance beam (two times, last at Big Ten Championships, March 21, 2015)
• Grace Williams tied her career high with a 9.925 on balance beam (vs. Penn State, Jan. 17, 2015)
• Williams’s title on beam was the fourth beam title of her career (2016: at Arizona State; 2015: vs. Lindenwood; at UCLA) and the third event title of the season (bars and beam, at Arizona State)

 

 

 

Name	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	All-Around
Hollie Blanske	9.775	9.80	9.85	9.875	39.300
Danielle Breen	--	9.775	9.85	9.775	--
Sienna Crouse	--	--	--	9.825
Jennie Laeng	9.575	9.875	9.90	9.70	39.050
Ashley Lambert	9.775	9.775	9.825	9.850	39.225
Catelyn Orel	9.475	9.725	--	--	--
Megan Schweihofer	9.80	--	9.075	9.825	--
Grace Williams	9.70	9.80	9.925	--	--
Team	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
Nebraska	48.625	49.025	49.350	49.150	196.150
Penn State	48.625	48.975	48.150	48.825	194.575