Blanske Wins All-Around, Huskers Take Second in Quad

Ames, Iowa - The 14th-ranked Nebraska women’s gymnastics team finished in second place at the Iowa State quadrangular meet on Sunday at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Huskers (7-3) scored a 195.350, defeating Iowa State (194.900) and Wisconsin-La Crosse (192.900). North Carolina State scored a 195.450 to win the meet.

The Huskers began the day on uneven bars, before moving to balance beam where they suffered some late mistakes, but maintained a slim lead. NU's third rotation on floor exercise produced some uncharacteristic falls and pushed the Huskers into a tight race for the lead with NC State. The Huskers gave a valiant effort in the final rotation on vault, but weren't able to beat out NC State.

“Landings were better overall and thats what we expected and worked on this week," Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said. "We just need to be able to take all the things we have been working on a put them together going forward."

Hollie Blanske won her third all-around title of the season, scoring a 39.475. The senior from Oak Grove, Minn., won her first vault and uneven bars titles of the season on Sunday. Blanske set a new season high on vault with a 9.875 and tied her season high with a 9.975 on uneven bars.

“I am so proud of Hollie," said Kendig. "She had a great day. Some people really stepped up and did a great job today and Hollie was one of them. That’s what we're looking for from every athlete.”

Four Huskers, including Blanske, set new career or season highs Sunday. Danielle Breen set a new season high on uneven bars, scoring a 9.825. Freshman Sienna Crouse set a new season high on the floor exercise (9.85) and senior Madison McConkey set a pair of career highs, scoring a 9.70 on beam and a 9.750 on floor.

Rotation One: The Huskers began the afternoon on uneven bars, and were led by Blanske, who tied her season-high with a 9.875. Grace Williams added a solid 9.85 into the mix, while Breen and Ashley Lambert both put up a 9.825 to help the Huskers. McConkey added a 9.675 to add to the Huskers total of 49.050.

The Cyclones began on vault, scoring a 48.925. Iowa State was led by sophomore Haylee Young with a 9.825. NC State began on balance beam scoring a 48.775 and UW-La Crosse on the floor exercise, scoring a 48.275.

Rotation Two: Nebraska moved to balance beam for the second rotation and was led was sophomore Danielle Breen scoring a 9.85. Blanske and freshman Megan Schweihofer put up a pair of 9.825s to contribute to the score. McConkey set a new season high scoring a 9.70, while Lambert added a 9.575 to the team total of a 48.775. 

Iowa State scored a 48.000 on bars led by Haylee Young scoring a 9.85. NC State with a 49.225 on floor exercise, led by Brittni Watkins with a 9.925. UW-La Crosse moved to the vault scoring a 48.385 led by Samantha Wiekamp with a 9.75.

After the second rotation, Nebraska held the lead at 97.825, while NC State followed in second with 97.500. UW-La Crosse was third with a 97.100 and Iowa State in fourth with a 96.925.

Rotation Three: Nebraska performed on floor exercise for its third rotation. Blanske led the way scoring a 9.90. Crouse scored a career-high 9.85 and Breen added a 9.85 of her own for the Big Red. Madison McConkey made her first appearance on floor in 2016 and scored a career-high 9.70. Rounding out the Husker scoring was Williams with an uncharacteristic 9.25 to give Nebraska a 48.600 total for the event.   

ISU scored a 49.025 on balance beam led by Haylee Young with a 9.90. NC State scored a 48.875 on vault, and UW-La Crosse scored a 48.275 on uneven bars. 

After the third rotation, the Huskers remained on top with a 146.425. NC State followed close behind with a 146.375 and Iowa State was third with a 145.950. UW-La Crosse had a 145.375 after the third rotation.  

Rotation Four: The Huskers ended the meet on vault, and scored a 48.925. Blanske led the way for the Huskers scoring new season high of 9.875. Schweihofer picked up 9.80 to help the Big Red. Crouse hit a 9.775, while Lambert added a 9.75 and Williams picked up a 9.725. 

NC State ended the night on uneven bars with a 49.075 to steal the top spot from NU. Iowa State racked up a 48.950 on floor and UW-La Crosse scored a 47.525 on balance beam

Nebraska will return home next Saturday, Feb. 27, for the annual Masters Classic. The Huskers will take on Northern Illinois, Sacramento State and Bridgeport. The meet is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Tickets to the Masters Classic as well as all home meets can be purchased at huskers.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED. 

Notes 

• Nebraska falls to 10-2 all-time against NC State
• Nebraska improves to 96-14-1 all-time against Iowa State
• Nebraska runs its record to 4-0 against UW-La Crosse after not meeting with the Eagles since 1980
• Hollie Blanske set a new season high on vault with a 9.875
• Blanske tied her season high on bars with a 9.875
• Blanske picks up her first vault and uneven bars titles of the season
• Blanske picks up her third all-around title of the year
• Danielle Breen set a new season high on bars with a 9.825
• Sienna Crouse set a new career high on floor exercise with a 9.85
• Madison McConkey set a new career high on balance beam with a 9.700
• McConkey competed on floor for the first time in the 2016 season on Sunday
• McConkey set a new career high on floor exercise with a 9.75

Name	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	All-Around
Hollie Blanske	9.875	9.875	9.825	9.90	37.475
Danielle Breen	--	9.825	9.85	9.85	--
Sienna Crouse	9.775	--	--	9.85	--
Jennie Laeng	--	8.575	--	--	--
Ashley Lambert	9.75	9.825	9.575	--	--
Madison McConkey	--	9.675	9.700	9.75	--
Megan Schweihofer	9.80	--	9.825	--	--
Grace Williams	9.725	9.85	9.45	9.250	38.275
Team	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
Nebraska	48.925	49.050	48.775	48.600	195.350
Iowa State	48.925	48.000	49.025	49.075	195.450
NC State	48.875	48.275	48.275	49.225	195.450
UW-La Crosse	48.325	48.275	47.525	48.925	194.900