Roby and Davis Win Event Titles In Duel with Rutgers

Lincoln, Neb. — The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team (1-4, 1-3 Big Ten), despite several career-high scores, fell to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Sunday afternoon by a score of 194.025-193.800.

Senior Kynsee Roby won the balance beam event title with a career-high score of 9.95. Freshman Kinsey Davis won the uneven bars event title with a score of 9.875. Sophomore Kathryn Thaler also tied a career-high on beam with a score of 9.90.

Rotation One

The Huskers’ vault team provided consistent scores during the first rotation and jumped out to an early lead. Dujakovich continued her string of solid vaults this season and tied her season-high on vault with a score of 9.825. She was followed closely by freshman Chloe Lorange who posted a 9.80. Sophomore Kylie Piringer and freshman Kinsey Davis both recorded scores of 9.75, while senior Makayla Curtis picked up a score of 9.60. Junior Kaitlyn Higgins made her debut on vault and anchored the Huskers with a 9.525, which was not counted.

Rutgers struggled early in the meet on uneven bars, but benefitted from a pair of solid scores. Emily Drauss led the way for the Scarlet Knights with a score of 9.80, while Hannah Joyner finished the rotation with a 9.725, which allowed Rutgers to avoid counting a fall. 

Nebraska held a 48.725-48.225 lead heading into the second rotation.

Rotation Two

NU was forced to record a fall during the second rotation on uneven bars, but received solid performances from a duo of gymnasts. Davis and Roby, who were selected as Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch prior to the season, led the charge for the Huskers. Davis recorded a career-high of 9.875, while Roby surpassed her season-high with a 9.825. Sophomore Clara Colombo picked up a score of 9.725, while Lorange finished her routine for a score of 9.675. Sophomore Kathryn Thaler’s score of 9.10 counted for NU after both she and Piringer fell. Piringer’s score of 8.85 was not counted.

Rutgers took the lead in the second rotation after solid performances on vault. Joyner once again led all Scarlet Knights with a score of 9.85, which won her the event title. Belle Huang picked up a score of 9.80 as Rutgers took the lead by a score of 96.950-96.925.

Rotation Three

NU continued its afternoon on balance beam for the third rotation, where five strong performances propelled the Huskers back into the lead. Roby finished a stellar routine which resulted in a score of 9.95, a career-high and the first 9.95 on beam for NU since Jan. 26, 2020. Thaler picked up a 9.90 following a brilliant routine which tied her career-high. Higgins recorded a score of 9.825 while Lorange and Davis both picked up career-high scores of 9.80 on the apparatus. Curtis fell, resulting in a score of 8.925, which was not counted. 

Huang recorded the highest score for RU on floor with a 9.825, however, Scarlet Knights were forced to record a fall. Rutgers could not maintain its lead during the third rotation, as Nebraska took the advantage by a score of 146.200-144.700 heading into the final rotation.

 

Rotation Four

The Huskers rounded out the meet on floor exercise. Curtis and Piringer posted scores of 9.80 for NU, but the Huskers were unable to hold onto the lead and fell in the final rotation. Dujakovich recorded a score of 9.65, while Lorange finished her afternoon with a 9.275 on floor and a 38.550 in the all-around. Higgins recorded a 9.025 due to a fall on her final pass, while Roby’s score of 8.65 was not counted.

Rutgers finished its afternoon on beam, where scores of 9.90 from Joyner and Huang helped RU push past NU. The Scarlet Knights picked up the win by a score of 194.025-193.750.

Up Next

Nebraska heads to Ann Arbor, Mich. for a meet with the Michigan Wolverines on Monday, Feb. 15. The meet will begin at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN.