No. 7 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team scored a season-high 197.325 to defeat Iowa at the Pink Meet Saturday night. The Huskers won all 4 events and the All-Around competition. The crowd, many dressed in pink to honor breast cancer survivors, enjoyed some of the finest performances of the season from their Husker squad at the Devaney Sports Center.
Nebraska set the tone from the outset. They began the meet on their best event, the vault. Ranked the No. 1 vault team in the country, NU combined to score 49.475 . Jessie DeZiel, Hollie Blanske and Ashley Lambert had matching 9.925 scores. Jennie Laeng tied her career-high score of 9.875 and Desire’ Stephens added a 9.825. The judges in the stands kept raising their scoring card of “10” but no perfect score came from the official judges table.
COME SEE US @ 6 🎀👊 pic.twitter.com/rMqDwdxnMC
— Jessie DeZiel (@DEZIELorNoDeal) February 7, 2015
Iowa started on bars in the first rotation. Hawkeye gymnast Johanny Sotillo led her squad with a 9.825. They completed the bars with a team score of 48.925. With 1 rotation completed and NU leading you already had the feeling that the Nebraska lead would only increase as the meet went on.
After 1 rotation the #Huskers lead the Hawkeyes 49.475-48.925 #GBR
— Nebraska Women's Gym (@HuskerWGym) February 8, 2015
NU moved to bars where Jennie Laeng led the Huskers with her new career-high mark on bars of 9.90. Again, a trio of Moore, Blanske and DeZiel all tied with 9.80 scores. Danielle Breen’s 9.775 helped the Huskers produce a team total score of 49.025. Over on the vault, the Hawkeyes scored a 48.275. After two events NU widened the lead to 98.550-97.200.
Moving into the 3 rotation, Huskers prepared for the beam which has been Nebraska’s weakest event and marred by falls. Great improvement was shown here as Jessie DeZiel scored a career high 9.925. Jennifer Lauer rebounded this week on beam by scoring a season-high 9.875, Blanske and Williams close behind with 9.85. Nebraska posted a season high 49.325 on beam. Across the floor, Sydney Hoerr’s 9.875 score led the Hawkeye marks for Iowa who posted a team total of 48.875. Huskers extended their lead to 147.875-146.075.
The #Huskers finish beam with Jennie Laeng's 9.725 and Jessie Deziel's career high 9.925!! #GBR
— Nebraska Women's Gym (@HuskerWGym) February 8, 2015
BIG RED also scored a season high 49.450 in the floor exercise led by Hollie Blanske’s 9.925. DeZiel and Lambert tied with 9.90 marks. Grace Williams earned a 9.875 while Desire’ Stephens added a 9.85 score. Iowa posted their highest event total of the meet with a score of 49.100 on beam. Hawkeye gymnast Alie Glover earned the highest mark with her 9.875 routine. Iowa finished the meet with 195.175 points but Nebraska sealed the win with 197.325.
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In the All-Around, the competition was close and it was between 2 Huskers. Jessie DeZiel edged out Hollie Blanske by just .50 to take the All-Around crown with a score of 39.550. Metcalf of Iowa finished in third with a score of 38.900.
The #Huskers hit their season team high and win the meet with a 197.325!! #GBR
— Nebraska Women's Gym (@HuskerWGym) February 8, 2015
Prior to the Michigan match, Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said it was key for his Husker gymnasts to combine for an event score of 49.00 points to be successful. The NU squad met that challenge and celebrate a sweet victory over Iowa. Huskers head out on the road next weekend to Minneapolis for a conference meet with the Gophers on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m CST. Huskers and the Gophers shared the Big Ten regular season title last season. As always, stay tuned and GO BIG RED!!