Huskers Take on No. 7 Iowa at Home

Nebraska Cornhuskers (1-5, 1-4 Big Ten) vs. No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1, 4-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, Feb. 20, 7:00 p.m. CT — Lincoln, Neb. (Bob Devaney Sports Center)

Live Scores: Huskers.com

Stream: BTN+ (Paid Subscription)

Lincoln, Neb. — The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team returns home to the Bob Devaney Sports Center to take on the No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes. The Huskers look to pick up a statement victory over a top-10 opponent and climb the national rankings with a strong team score.

The Huskers last took on the No. 8 Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Monday, Feb. 15. NU posted its best team score of the season at 195.350, but fell to Michigan on the road. Despite the result, the Huskers made tremendous strides toward success with several standout performances.

Senior Kynsee Roby posted a career-high on uneven bars with a score of 9.925, which won her the event title, and also recorded a 9.875 on balance beam, continuing her impressive season on the apparatus. Freshman Danielle Press picked up a career-high on vault with a 9.875, while fellow freshman Martina Comin made her collegiate debut with a 9.80 on vault.

Iowa has gotten off to a strong start in the 2021 season. The Hawkeyes own a 4-1 record and a 4-0 Big Ten Conference record. On Feb. 13, Iowa defeated the then-No. 29 Maryland Terrapins at home by a score of 196.775-195.350 and picked up three victories against teams ranked in the top 25 of the Road to Nationals poll through five weeks of competition.

Nebraska has been led by Roby on two apparatuses and has also seen an emergence of young talent. Roby has broken numerous career-highs this season, including a score of 9.925 on uneven bars on Feb. 15. All five of Nebraska’s freshmen have seen action this season, as Comin and Joanne De Jesus-Cortes made their season debuts against Michigan earlier this week.

The Huskers look to climb the Big Ten standings with a victory over a top-10 program in the nation. NU won the last meeting between these programs by a score of 196.750-195.725 at the Big Five Meet on Feb. 21, 2020.

NU takes the No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The meet will be streamed on BTN+.

Following the Huskers’ meet against Iowa, Nebraska heads to College Park, Md. for the 2021 Big Five Meet on Friday, Feb 26. The meet will start at 4 p.m.

Fans can follow the Huskers on Twitter at @HuskersWGym, Instagram at @HuskersWGymnastics and Facebook at facebook.com/NebraskaWGym.

Notes:

SCOUTING IOWA

Iowa enters Saturday’s meet with a 4-1 record and a 4-0 record in Big Ten Conference meets. The Hawkeyes last faced off with the Maryland Terrapins at home and emerged victorious by a score of 196.775-195.350. Iowa has racked up three wins over top-25 opponents in Minnesota, Illinois and Ohio State.

NEBRASKA ENTERS WEEK SIX RANKED NO. 39

The Huskers enter this weekend’s meet as the No. 39 program in the country, as ranked by the Road to Nationals poll. NU’s meet against Michigan was not accounted for when these rankings came out, as it took place after they were released. Nebraska looks to climb the rankings with a strong evening at home.

ROBY RANKED NO. 15 ON BALANCE BEAM

Senior Kynsee Roby, following stellar beam performances in the first four weeks of competition, ranks 15th in the nation on the apparatus. Roby won at least a share of the event title in three of Nebraska’s first four meets, which included a score of 9.95 last week against Rutgers. 

YOUTH SHINES FOR NU THROUGHOUT SEASON

Nebraska’s freshmen have provided crucial depth for the program throughout the 2021 season. All five first-year athletes have seen action this year, with Joanne De Jesus-Cortes and Martina Comin making their debuts on Feb. 15 against Michigan. Kinsey Davis picked up her first career event title against Rutgers on Feb. 7, while Chloe Lorange has served as NU’s lone all-around competitor. Danielle Press set a season-high on Feb. 15 on vault, with a score of 9.875.

UP NEXT

The Huskers head to College Park, Md. to take part in the Big Five meet on Feb. 26. NU takes on Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State and Illinois at the event, which begins at 4 p.m.

NU RANKED THIRD IN BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL

The Huskers enter the 2021 season as the No. 3 ranked team in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Michigan and Minnesota claimed the top two spots in the poll, while Iowa and Illinois round out the top five. 

BIG TEN SCHEDULE IN 2021

The Big Ten Conference announced that its members will participate in a conference-only regular season. Week one of the season for Nebraska will serve as a non-conference meet against Big Ten foe Illinois. Weeks 2-7 will serve as the Big Ten regular season, with the Big Ten regular season champion being crowned at the Big Five meet. Weeks eight and nine include non-conference meets against Big Ten opponents. 

ROBY, DAVIS NAMED GYMNASTS TO WATCH

The conference announced that senior Kynsee Roby and freshman Kinsey Davis were selected as Nebraska’s Big Ten Women’s Gymnasts to Watch for the 2021 season. 

ROSTER OUTLOOK

The Huskers welcome back three seniors for the 2021 season. Makayla Curtis, Anika Dujakovich and Kynsee Roby will serve as veteran leaders for the program. The lone junior on the Huskers’ squad is newcomer Kaitlyn Higgins, who started her career at Minnesota and will add depth for NU on beam and floor.

Nebraska’s sophomore class consists of Clara Colombo, Kathryn Thaler and Kylie Piringer. Piringer looks to build upon the strong foundation she set during her freshman campaign after being named a second team All-Big Ten selection following the 2020 season. Head coach Heather Brink also welcomes six freshmen, Martina Comin, Kinsey Davis, Joanne De Jesus-Cortes, Chloé Lorange, Danielle Press and Caroline Williams.

HUSKERS INTRODUCE FIVE 2021 SIGNEES

Head Coach Heather Brink announced the signing of five future Husker gymnasts joining the 2021 women’s gymnastics signing class. Ayzhia Hall (Fayetteville, AR), Emma Simpton (Dallas, Texas), Halle Rourke (Waverly, Neb.), Savanah Warren (Parker, CO) and Emma Spence (Cambridge, Ontario) will join NU’s program for the 2021-22 season. 

CORNHUSKERS REPRESENT ACROSS UNITED STATES AND BEYOND

Nebraska features gymnasts from six states:  Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, New Jersey and Texas. The Huskers also feature three international gymnasts, Clara Colombo and Martina Comin of Italy and Chloé Lorange of Canada.