Michigan State University
Auburn
Gymnastics Falls to No. 8 Auburn 196.575-195.275
3/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 6, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Despite posting a season-high 195.275, the 2009 Michigan State gymnastics team lost to No. 8 Auburn, 196.575-195.275, Friday night at Jenison Field House. Senior Katlyn Roggensack (Wheaton, Ill.) tied her career-high all-around score by posting a 39.100 to pace the Spartans. The Spartans also took home the top two spots on the balance beam as Kelsey Morley (Elkhart, Ind.) and Nicole Curler (Bay City, Mich.) took first and second with scores of 9.900 and 9.875, respectively. The Spartan's score of 48.975 on beam is a season-high as was their score of 49.150 on the floor.
"We started a little slow and then we had an error on bars, but I was proud to see how the team responded in the final two rotations," head coach Kathie Klages said. "It felt good to finally get that monkey off of our back on beam by posting that big score and then I thought we really put and exclamation point on the meet with our performance on the floor."
The Spartans opened the meet on vault, turning in a score of 48.675. The No. 8 Tigers posted a 48.950 on the uneven bars to take the lead after the first rotation. MSU was paced by Roggensack and junior Rochelle Robinson (Chesapeake, Va.), who posted scores of 9.775 and 9.800, respectively. Sophomore Nicole Argiros (Livonia, Mich.) also posted a 9.775 on the event, her third-highest score of the season. Auburn was paced by A.J. Mills, who posted a 9.900, helping the Tigers take a narrow lead into the second rotation.
The Spartans took to the uneven bars in the second rotation looking to gain some ground on the Tigers. Anchored by a 9.875 from Robinson, MSU posted a 48.475, having to count a fall on the event. Robinson's score of 9.875 earned her second place in the event. Auburn continued to post big scores, tallying a 49.250 on vault, once again highlighted by Mills, who posted a 9.950. Through the first two rotations, MSU trailed Auburn, 98.200-97.150. Freshman Jackie Berg (Tinley Park, Ill.) posted a 9.775 on bars, the Spartan's second-best score on the event and the second-best bars score of Berg's career. Roggensack also shined for the Spartans, posting a 9.725.
The Spartans hit the balance beam in the third rotation and got another big performance from Morley, who posted a 9.900 to lead the Spartans on the event. As a team, MSU posted a 48.975 on beam, the Spartan's best score on the season in the event. Curler tallied a 9.875 on the event while Berg and Roggensack both posted scores of 9.750 to pace the Spartans.
The Spartans closed the meet in style, posting a season-best 49.150 on the event as all five scorers posted scores of 9.750 or better. Sophomore Kathryn Mahoney (Western Springs, Ill.) junior Emily Lopatofsky (Waymart, Pa.) led the Spartans with a 9.875 on the event, finishing in a tie for second on the event.
The Spartans will return home on Sunday to take on Ball State and California in their final home meet of the season. The team will honor its two seniors, Roggensack and Dani Fanning (Glendale, Ariz.), throughout the meet on Sunday.
Players Mentioned
