Michigan State University Athletics
Gymnastics Travels to No. 18 Illinois
2/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 17, 2012
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State gymnastics team hits the road for the first time in three weeks on Friday (Feb. 17) when it heads to No. 18 Illinois. The Spartans and the Fighting Illini will face off at 8 p.m. (ET) in Huff Hall in Champaign, Ill.
After three weeks of non-conference competition, MSU is back in Big Ten action and this time there is more at stake than just bragging rights. A rivalry trophy was created between the schools in 2010 and Michigan State looks to bring the Victory Plank to East Lansing for the first time since its inception.
"There is excitement about getting on the road and being together as a team. And going to Illinois is especially exciting because of the rivalry trophy," said head coach Kathie Klages. "Our team has always risen to the occasion against Illinois. Even though we've never won the Victory Plank we have always performed really well."
"The last two years we barely missed winning the Victory Plank," said sophomore Sarena Bumbarger. "Illinois has a reputation for being better than us this year, so we really have to go in there and give our best. We always do really well against Illinois no matter how bad the rest of the season has been, so we hope to keep that tradition alive. It's a good rivalry and we want to bring the trophy home this year."
MSU enters the competition averaging 192.555, tallying a season-high score of 194.400 against Illinois State. The Spartans began the season dropping 4 out of five meets to ranked opponents, but have rallied to win their last three for an even 4-4 record.
Michigan State is earning the highest marks on the vault with a 48.685 average, which is 29th in the country. Redshirt sophomore Taira Neal is the top Spartan in the event with a 9.855 average. Winning the event in all five dual meets this year, Neal is eighth in the region and tied for ninth in the conference. Freshman Alina Cartwright is posting a 9.713 average on the uneven bars, which puts her at 22nd in the Big Ten. Bumbarger leads MSU on the balance beam with a 9.742 average, she ranks 11th in the region and is tied for 12th in the league. Senior Jackie Berg and freshman Ashley Noll are both averaging 9.730 in the floor exercise, which ties them for 25th regionally.
Last week Michigan State narrowly defeated Pittsburgh 193.875-193.475 in the second annual Autism Awareness Meet. MSU placed first in three of the four rotations while two Spartans tied or beat their personal-best. Senior Alyssa Brennan posted a career-high 9.800 floor routine and Cartwright tied her career-best score on the bars with a 9.775.
Illinois currently sits in the 18th spot on the national rankings with a 194.860 average and a season-high 195.700. The floor exercise is the Illini's strongest event with an average mark of 48.910 for 13th in the country. Illinois is also in the Top 25 on the uneven bars (12th, 48.850) and the balance beam (21st, 48.520).
Michigan State is back at home next week when they host Ball State on Friday (Feb. 24). Competition is slated to begin at 7 p.m. (ET) in Jenison Field House.
Players Mentioned
