Huskers Earn A Spot In NCAA Championship

Iowa City, Iowa - Senior Hollie Blanske tied for the floor exercise title and Grace Williams tied for first on the balance beam to push the Huskers to a 196.550 finishing second at the Iowa City Regional on Saturday. The Huskers earned a spot in the NCAA National Championships beating out four other teams.

Oklahoma took home the crown with a 197.575 and is also advancing to the 2016 National Championships. 

Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said, “I am really proud of this team. We had a goal today and we achieved it.” 

Blanske earned a season-high and tied her career-high on uneven bars with a score of a 9.90. Other stand out performances from the Huskers were freshman Megan Schweihofer on vault earning a 9.85 and Williams with a stuck landing on beam earned a nearly perfect 9.90.

“Now we have two more weeks to prepare for the next goal,” said Coach Dan Kendig. “The effort has been there this entire season and this team just keeps getting better and better.”

Rotation One: The Huskers began the evening on balance beam and put up a solid 49.125 to lead after the first rotation. The Big Red was led by anchor Grace Williams, producing a 9.90 on the event. Blanske added a 9.85 to the mix, while teammates Breen and Laeng clinched a 9.80. Freshman Megan Schweihofer pitched in a 9.775.

Arkansas in second after one rotation by putting up a 49.000 on floor followed by Kent State scored a 48.650 on beam. Central Michigan, which scored a 48.375 on vault, while Oklahoma and Iowa were on bye.

Rotation Two: The Huskers were on bye in the second rotation.

After two rotations, Kent State moved into the lead with a 97.500. Arkansas still in second with a score of a 97.375, followed by Oklahoma with a 49.575. Iowa in fifth place a 48.400 on floor exercise, while Central Michigan a had bye.

Rotation Three: The Huskers on floor exercise in the third rotation. NU produced a 49.275 on the event putting the team in second place. The team was led by Blanske’s nearly perfect 9.90 routine. A trio of Huskers, Breen, Crouse and Laeng, earned a score of a 9.85. Williams rounded out the teams’ total producing a solid 9.825.

After three rotations, Oklahoma claimed the lead with a 99.000. Central Michigan is in fifth with a 97.250 and Iowa with a score of 96.925 in sixth. Arkansas and Kent State both had byes during the third rotation. 

Rotation Four: NU moved to vault for the fourth rotation scoring a 48.925 to push back into the lead. Schweihofer led the way for the Big Red clinching a 9.85. Blanske adding a 9.80 into the mix and Laeng with a 9.775. Breen and Williams had identical scores of a 9.750 to round out the Huskers score.

After four rotations, in second place is Arkansas with a 146.475 followed by Central Michigan with a score of a 146.150. Kent State in fourth place with a 146.075 and Oklahoma and Iowa were on a bye.

Rotation Five: The Huskers were on bye in the fifth rotation.

After five rotations, Arkansas ended the night with a team score of a 195.500 followed by Kent State’s total score, 194.525. In third going with a 148.300 with vault left. In fifth is Iowa with a score of a 146.350 and their final event is floor. Central Michigan in sixth with a 146.150 and ending the night on floor exercise.

Rotation Six: The Huskers closed the night with a score of 49.225 on uneven bars. Leading the way was senior Hollie Blanske scoring a new season-high 9.90. Orel added a solid 9.825 and teammates Crouse and Williams equally earned a 9.85 to help the teams score. Rounding out the Huskers score was Breen and Laeng both earning a 9.80.

Nebraska will move on to the NCAA Nationals for the 24 time. The top two-placing teams of each of the six regionals from today will be scheduled to compete in either an afternoon or evening session for the preliminaries April 15. The top three teams from each preliminary session will qualify to the Super Six finals the following day in order to crown the team champion. 

Notes

• Nebraska earns its 24 NCAA Appearance (last in 2015)
• Nebraska moves to 27-5 on the 2016 season
• Blanske earns her seventh floor exercise title
• Blanske earns her 16th title on the season
• Blanske earns a new season-high on uneven bars with a 9.90
• Blanske ties her career-high on uneven bars with a 9.90
• Blanske ties season-high on balance beam with a 9.85 
• Williams earns her eighth title on balance beam
• Williams earns her 13th title on the season

Name	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	All-Around
Hollie Blanske	9.80	9.90	9.85	9.90	39.450
Danielle Breen	9.75	9.80	9.80	9.85	39.200
Sienna Crouse	9.75	9.85	--	9.85	--
Jennie Laeng	9.775	9.80	9.80	9.85	39.225
Madison McConkey	--	--	9.75	--	--
Catelyn Orel	--	9.825	--	9.80	--
Megan Schweihofer	9.85	--	9.775	--	--
Grace Williams	9.75	9.85	9.90	9.825	39.325
Team	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
Nebraska	48.925	49.225	49.375	49.275	196.550
Oklahoma		49.575	49.425	49.300	197.575
Arkansas	48.375	49.10	49.025	49.000	195.500
Iowa	48.825	49.425	49.100	48.400	195.450
Kent State	48.450	48.650	48.850	48.575	194.525
Central Michigan	48.375	48.875	48.900	48.525	194.675