No. 23 Spartan Gymnastics Hits the Road
3/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 2, 2006
Notes vs. NC State, NIU
Download Free Acrobat Reader
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State gymnastics team kicks off a four-meet road swing Friday, March 5 at 7 p.m. in Raleigh, N.C. The No. 23 Spartans go into the meet following a victory over Alaska Anchorage, while the Wolfpack heads into weekend action following victories over EAGL conference opponents North Carolina and George Washington. The meet will take place at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh. Following the Friday night competition, Michigan State will travel to Dekalb, Ill. where they will face the Northern Illinois Huskies on Sunday, March 7 at 2 p.m.
LAST WEEK IN REVIEW... Junior Kristen Coleman captured three event titles and took home all-around honors as the Michigan State women's gymnastics team defeated Alaska Anchorage 193.325-190.450, Friday evening at Jenison Fieldhouse. Classmate Chayla Hill completed a Spartan sweep of the four individual event titles, by winning the floor exercise with a score of 9.800.
THE WEEK AHEAD... The Spartans kick off three weekends away from East Lansing as they head to Raleigh, N.C. to face the North Carolina State Wolfpack on Friday, March 5 at 7 p.m. Michigan State will then travel to Dekalb, Ill. where it will compete against Northern Illinois University. The meet will take place at the Convocation Center on Sunday, March 7 at 2 p.m.
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK The 11-5 NC State gymnastics team posted a 193.625 for a second place finish in its quad meet at Reynolds Coliseum last Friday. No. 16 Denver won the meet with a score of 193.700, North Carolina placed third (193.375) and George Washington was fourth (192.100). The Wolfpack competed again on Sunday and had its top meet of the season. The team posted a season-high score of 195.700 and easily defeated fellow EAGL conference foes North Carolina (194.350) and George Washington (192.775). NC State is currently ranked No. 25 nationally on the vault (48.481 avg.) and floor exercise (48.284 avg.).
THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES The Northern Illionois Huskies competed last weekend placing fourth in a quad meet against No. 10 Nebraska, San Jose State and Central Michigan. With a team score of 191.600, the Huskies were unable to come away with the win, dropping their record to 3-10-0 for the season.
IN THE NATION Michigan State gymnastics is once again ranked No. 23 in the nation, with a season average of 192.519. In addition the Spartans have moved into the top 25 for two events, coming in at No. 20 on the vault with a season average of 48.537. The team is No. 21 on bars with a 48.272 average for the season.
SENIOR NIGHT FOR ALEXANDER Following the meet against Alaska Anchorage, the Michigan State gymnastics team honored its sole senior Sarah Alexander in her final regular season home meet. Alexander is a three-time captain of the Michigan State Gymnastics team, and holds school records on the balance beam (9.950) and floor (9.975). She has also earned second on the MSU all-time high scores in all around competition, twice scoring a 39.425. Alexander, who has battled injuries all season, posted a 9.350 on vault and a 9.125 on the balance beam in her final home meet vs. Alaska Anchorage.
COLEMAN SHINES AGAINST UAA Junior Kristen Coleman dominated for the Spartans last weekend against Alaska Anchorage. Coleman earned event titles on vault (9.800), bars (9.750), and beam (9.750), in addition to capturing the all around-title with a 39.050. She finished second on floor with a 9.750 behind teammate Chayla Hill who scored a 9.800.
FOUR AWAY MEETS IN THREE WEEKENDS Michigan State hits the road for the next three weekends, before returning home on March 25 to host the Big Ten Championships. The Spartans kick off away meets Friday, March 5, against NC State, and then head to Dekalb, Ill. two days later to meet the Northern Illinois Huskies. The following two weekends the Spartans will match up against conference rivals Illinois (3/ll) and Michigan (3/17).
Players Mentioned
