Gymnastics: WVU Travels to George Washington
February 08, 2009 12:54 PM | General
February 8, 2009
WVU at GW Notes
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| Mehgan Morris |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 22 West Virginia University gymnastics team returns to the road after a two-meet homestand, traveling to George Washington for a dual-meet on Monday, Feb. 9, at 6 p.m.
The meeting is the second straight between the squads, as the Mountaineers (4-4 overall, 3-1 EAGL) return the Colonials’ (8-3 overall, 3-3 EAGL) Jan. 31 visit. WVU walked away with the win over GW, 193.925-191.775. Both teams lost to meet-champion Maryland (194.475), and earned a win over Rutgers (187.950).
WVU owns a 35-1 series edge over the Colonials, including three wins from the 2008 season.
The Mountaineers head into the meet after sliding three spots in the Feb. 2 GymInfo Poll with a 194.119 average. WVU still ranks No. 3 in the Southeast Region and No. 1 in the EAGL Conference.
Senior Mehgan Morris enters Monday’s meet only needing 28.600 points to break into the WVU career points record list. Through 44 career meets, the Belle, W.Va., native has totaled 1,348.75 points. Susie Pierce (1989-91) is No. 18 with 1,377.35 points, while Morris’ former teammate, Janáe Cox (2004-07), is No. 1 with 2,070.65 points.
Despite their second-place finish on Jan. 31, four Mountaineers earned individual first-place finishes. Junior Chelsi Tabor nabbed her third vault win of the year with a season-best 9.875 score, while Morris finished first on the floor for the second-straight week with a career-best 9.950 mark. The score is Morris’ first 9.950 point total since winning the floor exercise at the 2008 EAGL Championships.
Additionally, junior Kiersten Spoerke won the balance beam with a career-best 9.90 mark, while freshman Nicole Roach finished first on the uneven bars with a season best 9.850 score.
As a team, the Mountaineers finished first on the vault (49.025 points), the bars (48.775 points) and the floor (49.350 points).
The season-best finish on the floor was fueled by five career-best marks. Sophomore Jessica Young, making only her second appearance in WVU’s floor lineup, opened the Mountaineers’ rotation with a score of 9.800 points. Classmate Naja Johnson and Spoerke followed with identical 9.850 scores, while sophomore Amy Bieski tallied her third career 9.90 mark. Morris anchored the lineup with her aforementioned 9.950 score.
The Mountaineers return to the WVU Coliseum on Feb. 15 to host Temple at 1 p.m. for a Pink Meet. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to promote breast cancer awareness.
