Huskers Return to Ann Arbor for NCAA Regionals

No. 14 Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-7, 6-3 Big Ten) at NCAA Ann Arbor Regional

Featuring: No. 2 UCLA, West Virginia, Illinois or Central Michigan

Friday, April 5, 6 p.m. CT -- Ann Arbor, Mich. Crisler Center

Live Scores: http://sidearmstats.com/umichigan/wgym/

Television: FloGymnastics

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- The No. 14 Nebraska women's gymnastics team is set to compete at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional in Ann Arbor, Mich. hosted by Michigan on Friday, April 5 at 6 p.m. CT.

The Huskers will compete in the second session of the regional that features No. 2 UCLA, West Virginia and the winner of Illinois and Central Michigan who will compete in a play-in round on Thursday, April 4. The first session features host No. 7 Michigan, No. 10 Alabama, along with Big Ten foes Ohio State and Penn State. The top two teams from each session will go on to compete in the regional final, with the top two from that session moving on to the National Semi-Finals.

Nebraska has qualified for an NCAA regional every year since 1984 and has advanced to the National Championship Semifinals 28 times, including last season where they would go on to the NCAA Super Six. 

NU jumped three spots in the national rankings, coming off of a third place finish in the Big Ten Championships. The Huskers have a NQS of 196.650 and once again rank top 20 in all four events, being ranked 14th on vault with a NQS of 49.155, 16th on uneven bars with a  NQS of 49.230, on balance beam, Nebraska is ranked 19th with a NQS of 49.140 and on the team's best event, floor exercise, the Huskers are tied for 11th with Arkansas with a NQS of 49.305.

ANN ARBOR REGIONAL FIELD NO. 2 UCLA The Bruins are coming off a first place finish in the Pac-12 Championships where they posted a season high team-score 198.400. UCLA ranks in the top five  national on all four events on the season. They are ranked third on vault with a NQS of 49.375 and a season high of 49.450. The Bruins are ranked first on uneven bars and floor exercise having a NQS of 49.590 on uneven bars and 49.720 on floor exercise, as well as season highs of 49.700 on bars and 49.800 on floor exercise. On balance beam, UCLA ranks second with a NQS of 49.535 and a season high of 49.700. NU met UCLA in the first meet of the season earlier this year where the Huskers fell to the Bruins 197.250-195.700.

WEST VIRGINIA  West Virginia is coming off of a fourth place finish in the Big IX Championship after going 19-9 in the regular season. The Mountaineers finished with a score of 195.600. WVU ranks No. 21 on vault as a team with a NQS of 49.050 and a season high of 49.200, No. 34 on uneven bars with a NQS of 48.940 and a season high of 49.175, No. 42 on balance beam with a NQS of 48.830 and a season high of 49.300 and finally the Mountaineers come in at No. 15 on floor exercise with a NQS of 49.280 and a season high of 49.500. The last time the two teams met in the post season came in 2013 where the Huskers defeated West Virginia 195.875-194.475. 

ILLINOIS/ CENTRAL MICHIGAN Illinois is coming off of a second place finish in the Big Ten Championships where they defeated the Huskers 196.650-195.550. Illinois is ranked No. 30 on vault with a NQS of 48.950 and a team high of 49.125 this season, on uneven bars, they are ranked No. 23 with a NQS of 49.100 and a season high of 49.425, on balance beam, they are ranked No. 17 with a NQS of 49.150 and a season high of 49.400 and on floor exercise the Illini are ranked No. 32 with a NQS of 49.110 and a season high of 49.200. The Huskers are 1-1 against the Illini this season, defeating them back January 197.250-194.675.

Central Michigan is coming off of a second place finish at the MAC Championships where they posted a team score of 1495.575. The Chippewas are ranked No. 37 on vault with a NQS of 48.860 and a season high of 49.325, on uneven bars they are ranked No. 39 with a NQS of 48.865 and a season high of 49.125, on balance beam they come in at No. 30 with a NQS of 48.955 and a season high of 49.200 and on floor exercise the Chippewas are No. 37 with a NQS of 49.080 and a season high of 49.125. 

LAST TIME AT REGIONALS The Huskers competed in the Raleigh Regional hosted by North Carolina State after posting a team score of 197.525. Louisiana State was the only team out of the six-team competition to best the Huskers. In that meet, Taylor Houchin was named Regional uneven bars champion with a score of 9.975 and Regional co-vault champion with a score of 9.95.

LAST TIME OUT Nebraska competed in the Big Ten Championships in State College, Pa. hosted by Penn State. The Huskers took third place at the meet, posting a team score of 196.550 falling to Michigan and Illinois. Taylor Houchin and Sienna Crouse were both named to the All-Championship team.

UP NEXT The top two teams from the two sessions will compete Saturday night in a super regional for a chance at the NCAA Four on the Floor along with that, the all-around winner and top event finishers on each event from a non-qualifying team will advance to the NCAA Championship Semifinals. 

CROUSE AND HOUCHIN NAMED TO BIG TEN All-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM Senior Sienna Crouse and Taylor Houchin continue their impressive year as they add another accolade to their resume, being named to the Big Ten All-Championship team. 

HOUCHIN NAMED NACGC/W REGULAR SEASON ALL-AMERICAN Taylor Houchin was named a NACGC/W Regular Season All-American announced by the NACGC/W on Wednesday, March 27. Houchin earned second team honors for her tremendous efforts on uneven bars.