Huskers Finish Eighth Overall

Fort Worth, Texas - The No. 9 ranked Huskers will end the season at the NCAA semifinals with senior Hollie Blanske leading the way for the Huskers one last time. Blanske was a first-team All-American on vault after earning a 9.925 on the event. Blanske was also named second-team All-American in the all-around earning a 39.4375 and floor excerice after producing a 9.875 on the event. 

Blanske earned her highest finish at the NCAA’s with a third place finish on vault. Coach Dan Kendig said, “I am extremely proud of Hollie. She has done a great job for us all season and I am happy to see her hard work pay off tonight.” Blanske also took 12th in the all-around. 

After combining the two sessions team totals the Huskers will take eighth place over all with a total score of a 195.775. Nebraska ends the season as the highest ranked team in the Big Ten. 

“The team really pulled together tonight,” said Coach Dan Kendig. “Not everything seemed to go our way, but they stuck together and made the most of it.”

Individual event titles were announced following the second semifinals session on Friday. Winning the vault title from Alabama is, Katie Bailey and from Georgia, Brandie Jay . The uneven bars champion was, Bridget Sloan from Florida and from Georgia, Brittany Rogers. Florida’s Bridget Sloan was the balance beam champion along with Danusia Francis from UCLA. Nina McGee from Denver took home the floor exercise title. The 2016 all-around champion from Florida is Bridget Sloan with a 39.700. 

Tomorrow’s Super Six finals will feature Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and UCLA to vie for the team title. Meet action is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. CT at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Coach Dan Kendig said, “These last couple meets have been an uphill climb and to be able to come to Nationals and compete through the adversity they did, I am just really proud of this team.” 

Rotation One: The Huskers began the evening on floor exercise and put up a 48.9625. The Big Red was led by senior Hollie Blanske, producing a 9.875 on the event. Freshman Sienna Crouse helped out with a 9.8625. Teammates Laeng and Orel added a 9.80 to the mix. Breen takes a step out-of-bounds earning a 9.625 to round out the Huskers.

UCLA leads after the first rotation earning a 49.2375 on uneven bars. In second is Utah with a total of a 49.100 on vault. California started the night on beam earning a 49.075 snagging third place after the first rotation. Alabama and Oklahoma had byes. 

Rotation Two: The Huskers on vault for the second rotation. NU produced a 49.075 on the event putting the team in second place. The team was led by Blanske’s stuck 9.925. Both Breen and Laeng earned a solid 9.8125 on the event. Schweihofer stuck her vault earning a 9.7625 and Crouse added a 9.7375 to help the Big Red.

After two rotations, UCLA remains in the lead with a 98.600. Oklahoma began their night on floor exercise earning a 49.450 to put them in third place. Alabama earned a 49.3125 on uneven bars. Utah and California had byes. 

Rotation Three: The Huskers were on bye in the third rotation. 

After three rotations, Oklahoma claimed the lead with a 98.850. Alabama takes second with a 98.6125. In fourth is Utah with a 98.3875 and in sixth is California with a 97.9500. UCLA had a bye. Huskers are in fifth after three rotations with a 98.0125.

Rotation Four: NU moved to uneven bars for the fourth rotation scoring a 48.7875. Orel led the way for the Big Red with a 9.8375. Breen added a 9.8125 into the mix, while Blanske and Williams, both earning a 9.7875, were able to overcome the anxiety of a hurt teammate to perform well after the accident. Jennie Laeng suffered a major injury requiring a visit to the hospital as a precaution. 

After four rotations, UCLA is in the lead with a 147.7125. California in second with a 146.900 followed by Nebraska holding a 146.800. Utah with a couple mistakes on beam now has a 146.525. Alabama and Oklahoma had byes. 

Rotation Five: The Huskers closed the night with a score of 48.9750 on balance beam. Leading the way was Blanske scoring a 9.850. Teammate Danielle Breen added a 9.8375 and Williams with a solid 9.800 to help the Big Red. Schweihofer contributed a 9.775 and McConkey added a 9.7125. The Huskers end the night with a total score of a 195.775.

After five rotations, UCLA also ends the night with a 196.775. Oklahoma holds a 148.3125 followed by Alabama with a score of a 147.900. California and Utah had byes.

Rotation Six: Huskers were on a bye for the sixth rotation. 

In the first semifinal session Florida won with a total score of a 197.475. In second was LSU with a 197.3375. Georgia took third with a 196.725. Stanford took fourth with a score of a 195.575 followed by Auburn scoring a 195.100. In sixth for the first session was Minnesota with a score of a 194.9875. 

Name	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	All-Around
Hollie Blanske	9.925	9.7875	9.85	9.875	39.4375
Danielle Breen	9.8125	9.8125	9.8375	9.625	39.0875
Sienna Crouse	9.7375	9.5625	--	9.8625	--
Jennie Laeng	9.8125	1.000	--	9.800	--
Madison McConkey	--	--	9.7125	--	--
Catelyn Orel	--	9.8375	9.1625	9.800	--
Megan Schweihofer	9.7625	--	9.775	--	--
Grace Williams	9.725	9.7875	9.800	8.975	38.2875
Team	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
Nebraska	48.050	48.7875	48.975	48.9625	195.775
Alabama	49.4875	49.3125	49.300	49.2875	197.3875
California	49.000	49.000	49.075	48.875	195.950
Oklahoma	49.400	49.4625	49.475	49.450	197.7875
UCLA	48.9875	49.2375	49.3625	49.1125	196.700
Utah	49.100	49.2875	48.1375	49.2375	195.7625