Huskers Win Two Event Titles In Meet With Illinois

Lincoln, Neb. — The No. 20 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (0-1, 0-0 Big Ten) dropped a non-conference meet to the No. 22 Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at the Bob Devaney Sports Center by a score of 195.475-193.400.

Nebraska’s freshmen performed well in their first collegiate meet, as Chloé Lorange won the all-around title, while fellow newcomers Kinsey Davis and Danielle Press provided depth for NU. Senior Kynsee Roby picked up the balance beam event title after a stellar routine for a score of 9.875. 

Rotation One

Nebraska opened the 2021 season on vault. Senior Anika Dujakovich led the way for NU with a score of 9.80, while fellow senior Makayla Curtis scored a 9.725 on the apparatus. Freshman Kinsey Davis recorded a score of 9.775 and sophomore Kylie Piringer and freshman Chloé Lorange both picked up scores of 9.75. 

Illinois started the meet on bars. The Fighting Illini were led by Kaitlyn Ewald, who one the bars event title with a score of 9.90. Nebraska trailed Illinois by a score of 48.975-48.800 after the first rotation.

Rotation Two

On uneven bars, senior Kynsee Roby and Davis picked up scores of 9.80. Piringer recorded a score of 9.775, while Lorange scored a 9.725. Sophomore Clara Colombo picked up a score of 9.70. Kathryn Thaler, due to a fall, recorded a score of 8.75, which was not counted. NU finished the rotation with a score of 48.800.

On vault, Illinois’ Lexi Powe picked up the event title with a score of 9.825, while Arayah Simons followed closely behind her with a score of 9.80. The Fighting Illini finished the rotation with a score of 48.975. Illinois held the lead, 97.675-97.600.

Rotation Three

On balance beam, Roby led the Huskers with a score of 9.875. Lorange recorded a score of 9.80, while Thaler picked up 9.75. Due to two falls and a stumble, NU finished the rotation with a score of 47.925.

For Illinois, Shaylah Scott recorded a 9.875 on floor exercise. Kylie Noonan and Abby Mueller added scores of 9.825. The Fighting Illini finished the rotation with a score of 49.025 and held the lead by a score of 146.700-145.525 heading into the final rotation.

 

Rotation Four

The Huskers finished the meet on floor exercise. Curtis led by example for NU with a score of 9.80, while Piringer recorded a score of 9.75. Freshman Danielle Press recorded a score of 9.725 and the Huskers finished the rotation with a team score of 47.775. 

Illinois ended its meet on the balance beam, where the Fighting Illini recorded a team score of 48.775.

Nebraska heads to University Park, Pa. for a Big Ten matchup with Penn State. The meet will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23.