Spartans Wrap Regular Season In Ann Arbor
3/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 14, 2006
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State wraps up the 2006 regular-season schedule this Friday, with a 7:30 p.m. contest at arch-rival Michigan. The Spartans now stand 11-6-0 overall and 1-2-0 vs. Big Ten opponents, following a loss at Illinois on Saturday. The Wolverines enter the meet with an 11-2-1 overall record and a high score of 197.100, which UM scored in a narrow loss at the hands of No. 1 Georgia on March 11. The two schools are meeting for the second time this season; Michigan posted a first-place finish, while the Spartans captured second, at the State of Michigan Classic on Feb. 3.
Week In Review...
Senior Sarah Alexander and junior Kristen Coleman each scored a 9.750 and tied for first-place in the balance beam competition, in a 194.275-193.775 dual-meet loss to the University of Illinois on Saturday, March 11. Michigan State carried a slim 0.025 lead into the fourth and final rotation, but the Illini turned in a strong floor routine, capturing the top-five event scores to earn the victory. The Spartans overall record drops to 11-6-0 this season.
Scouting The Wolverines...
Michigan currently boasts an RQS score of 196.02, good enough for a No. 9 ranking in the March 13, edition of the GymInfo Top-25 Poll. The Wolverines boast an overall record of 11-2-1, with losses to then No. 2 Utah (Feb. 11) and current No. 1 Georgia (March. 11).
UM is led by a talented group of all-arounders in senior Jenny Deiley, junior Lindsey Bruck and freshman Tatjana Thuener-Rego. The trio has posted 16 all-around scores of 39.000 or higher, but combined hold just one event high-score for the Wolverines this season. Deiley's 9.950, vs. Georgia, sets the Michigan benchmark on the vault this season, while Becky Bernard (9.950 - Bars), Nellie Kippley (9.925 - Beam) and Becca Clauson (9.925 - Floor) also key a deep and talented group of gymnasts.
Series History...
Michigan holds a 34-25 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools and has won nine head-to-head meets in a row, including a victory earlier this year at the Michigan Classic. The Wolverines posted a 196.375 to claim Michigan bragging rights for 2006, while the Spartans placed second, netting a cumulative team score of 193.525.
Road Warriors...
Friday's meet in Ann Arbor, will mark the fifth-straight, and eighth-of-10, road contests for the Michigan State women's gymnastics team. The Spartans have posted a 9-5 record in that span (7-5 on the road), upping its 2006 mark to 11-6. MSU will return to Jenison Field House one last time, in 2006, playing host to the Big Ten Championships on March 25. The all-conference, which features all-seven Big Ten teams, will begin at 6 p.m. EST.
Balancing Act...
Just one week after scoring a program-best 49.475 on the balance beam, the Spartans continued to shine in gymnastics' most critical event. Senior Sarah Alexander and junior Chayla Hill posted a pair of 9.750 scores to tie for first-place honors in a March 11 meet at Illinois. Freshman, and Illinois native, Katlyn Roggensack added a 9.725 to tie for third-place, reaching the balance beam podium for the first time in her career. The Spartans have averaged a 48.035 on beam, in ten meets, this season.
Spartans In The Rankings...
As the season draws to a close, Michigan State continues to appear on the national radar in a handful of team rankings. The Green and White currently boast the nation's 21st ranked vaulting attack, with a VRQS of 48.790, while its UBRQS of 48.535 ranks 24th in the country. MSU's VRQS and UBRQS rank third and fourth in the Big Ten Conference this season, respectively. With an overall RQS of 193.610, the Spartans sit just 0.375 points outside of the national top-25.
Players Mentioned
