Huskers Knock Off Third-Ranked Michigan

Lincoln – Grace Williams led Nebraska with a career-high 39.500 in the all-around as the 17th-ranked Huskers defeated No. 3 Michigan by a score of 196.775-196.550 in front of 2,113 fans Friday night at the Devaney Center.

The Huskers (5-0, 3-0 Big Ten) picked up their first regular season victory over a top five team since 2012 and their first win over a top three ranked team since 2009. Michigan falls to 5-1 on the season and 2-1 in Big Ten competition.

“Sometimes, you just have to believe,” Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said. “Michigan’s a great team, but our team had a lot of heart today. I told them before the meet, ‘Some people are going to have to step up for this to happen,’ and some people really did step up.”

The Huskers' team score of 196.775 was their highest of the season. The Big Red also set season highs on the uneven bars and floor exercise against the Wolverines.

Williams finished second in the all-around and picked up her fourth balance beam title of the season, scoring a career-high 9.95. She also finished second on uneven bars with a score of 9.90. Williams set season highs on three events as well as the all-around on Saturday.

Jennie Laeng picked up a pair of event titles, winning the uneven bars with a score of 9.925 and tying for first on vault with a 9.85. Her vault victory is her second of the season, while the 2015 Big Ten uneven bars co-champion picked up her third bars win of the year.

“I’m proud of all of them,” Kendig said “This is definitely a team win and I feel like our team grew up tonight. We beat a very good team today, and we’re going to enjoy this and get back to work again next week.”

Rotation One: Nebraska began the competition on vault, scoring a solid 49.025 to begin the meet. Laeng hit a season-high 9.85 to lead the Huskers. Hollie Blanske chipped in a 9.825, while Catelyn Orel added a career-high 9.80. Williams, Sienna Crouse and Megan Schweihofer each scored a 9.775 to round out the Husker lineup.

The Wolverines started on uneven bars, scoring a 49.250 to take an early lead. UM was led by Brianna Brown who scored a 9.875.

Rotation Two: The Huskers moved to bars for their second rotation, and scored a season-high 49.200. Laeng led the way for the Huskers, hitting a season-high 9.925. Williams finished second with a 9.90, which tied her career high. Blanske added a 9.875, while Orel scored a 9.825. Breen hit a 9.675 to round out the Husker lineup.

UM rotated to vault for its second rotation and scored a 49.100. Talia Chiarelli, Austin Sheppard and Olivia Karas each scored a 9.85 for the Wolverines.

After two rotations, Michigan led 98.350-98.225.

Rotation Three: NU’s third rotation came on balance beam as the Huskers put up a 49.250 on the event. Williams led the way with her 9.95, a career high. Danielle Breen also set a career high for the Big Red, scoring a 9.90 to finish second. Schweihofer and Blanske both added a 9.825, while Orel rounded out the scoring with a 9.75 in the first beam routine of her collegiate career.

Michigan’s third rotation was on floor exercise and scored a 49.550, led by Nicole Artz’s 9.975.

After three rotations, Michigan clung to a 147.900-147.475 lead.

Rotation Four: The Huskers saved their best performances of the night for last, scoring a season-high 49.300 on floor to seal the victory. Orel, Williams and Schweihofer each scored a 9.875 to finish tied for fourth. Blanske added a 9.85, while Crouse hit a 9.825 for the Big Red

The Wolverines finished the meet on beam and scored a 48.650. Karas and Brown paced UM with a pair of 9.875s.

The Huskers will hit the road to take on Big Ten rival Iowa next Saturday, Feb. 6 in Iowa City, Iowa. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised live on Big Ten Network.

Notes

• With the win, Nebraska grabs a 23-22-1 lead in the all-time series
• Friday’s win was the Huskers’ first win over a top five team since Feb. 3 2012, when Nebraska defeated No. 5 Oklahoma by a score of 196.750-196.475
• The win was Nebraska’s first over a top three opponent since Feb. 22, 2009, when the Huskers took down No. 3 UCLA at the Masters Classic
• The Huskers set a season high with a team score of 196.775
• The Huskers set season highs with scores of 49.200 on bars and 49.300 on floor
• Hollie Blanske set a season high with a 9.875 on bars
• Danielle Breen set a career high with a 9.90 on beam
• Jennie Laeng won her second vault title of the season (at Arizona State) and third bars title of the year (at Arizona State, at Penn State)
• Laeng set a season high on vault with a 9.85 and a season high on bars with a 9.925
• Laeng’s 9.925 on bars is the Huskers highest score on bars this year
• Laeng now has eight event titles on the season, which leads the Huskers
• Madison McConkey set a career high on beam with a 9.675
• Catelyn Orel set career highs with a 9.80 on vault, 9.825 on bars and 9.875 on floor and scored a 9.75 in the first beam routine of her career
• Orel scored a 39.250 in the first all-around performance of her career
• Megan Schweihofer set a career high with a 9.875 on floor and tied her career high with a 9.825 on beam
• Grace Williams tied her career high with a 9.90 on bars (at Masters Classic, Feb. 1, 2015)
• Williams set a career high on beam with a 9.95
• Williams’ 9.95 was the Huskers first score of 9.95 or above on beam this year and the Huskers first score of 9.95 or above on beam since Emily Wong hit a 9.95 at the NCAA Super Six on April 19, 2014.
• Williams set a season high with a 9.875 on floor
• Williams set a career high with a 39.500 in the all-around

Name	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	All-Around
Hollie Blanske	9.825	9.875	9.825	9.85	39.375
Danielle Breen	--	9.675	9.90	9.10	--
Sienna Crouse	9.775	--	--	9.825	--
Jennie Laeng	9.85	9.925	--	--	--
Madison McConkey	--	9.025	9.675	--	--
Catelyn Orel	9.80	9.825	9.75	9.875	39.250
Megan Schweihofer	9.775	--	9.825	9.875	--
Grace Williams	9.775	9.90	9.95	9.875	39.500
Team	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
Nebraska	49.025	49.200	49.250	49.300	196.775
Michigan	49.100	49.250	48.650	49.550	196.550