WVU Triumphant in Home Opener
January 24, 2010 05:32 PM | General
January 24, 2010
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| Amy Bieski |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Junior Amy Bieski’s efficient, solid day in the gym helped propel the West Virginia University gymnastics team to a season-high 194.0 score and a sweep of its home opener this afternoon infront of 1,555 fans at the WVU Coliseum.
The Mountaineers (6-2, 4-0 EAGL) defeated East Atlantic Gymnastics League opponents No. 23-ranked NC State (193.225), Maryland (193.0) and George Washington (188.65).
The victory over the Wolfpack is WVU’s first win over a ranked team this season. Additionally, since going 1-2 in their season opener at Michigan State, the Mountaineers have earned five-straight wins.
The Mountaineers’ victories increase their series leads over the Wolfpack (22-11), Colonials (38-1) and Terrapins (30-13-1).
WVU’s day included wins on vault (48.75) and beam (48.075). The team also finished second on bars (48.5) and floor (48.675). All but the floor score are season-high marks.
Bieski, a Nanticoke, Pa., native, had a breakout meet infront of the home fans, placing in the top three on each event, including a bars win, and finishing first overall with 39.15 points. The cumulative score is Bieski’s first 39.0-plus of the season and eighth career, moving her into a 10th-place tie with Lajuanda Moody for the most career 39.0-plus all-around scores.
Bieski’s lone event win came in bars, as she scored a season-high 9.775 and tied NCSU’s Taylor Seaman. Bieski also tied for second on vault (9.775) and beam (9.775) and tied for third on floor (9.825); each score is a season-best mark.
The Wolfpack’s Jessica Panza and Seaman finished behind Bieski with respective 38.95 and 38.45 scores.
WVU relied on its No. 17-ranked floor lineup today, as the team trailed the Terrapins 145.575-145.325 through three rotations. The Mountaineers pulled through, scoring 48.675 to UMD’s 47.425 beam point total to secure the meet victory.
Following a shaky start, senior Kiersten Spoerke got the Mountaineers on track with a 9.725 score, while junior Stephanie Keaton followed with a career-best 9.75. Freshman Chelsea Goldschrafe proved tough under pressure in her first career floor performance, scoring 9.7 as a last-second replacement in the No. 5 slot and paving the way for Bieski’s 9.825 performance.
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| Chelsi Tabor |
The Mountaineers jumped out to the early lead thanks to a 48.75 vault rotation, their strongest of the season. UMD and NCSU earned 48.575 on the floor and bars, respectively, and sat behind WVU, while GW tallied 47.625 on beam.
Senior Chelsi Tabor continued to ride her hot-streak, anchoring the Mountaineers' lineup with a first-place 9.875 vault; the Beckley, W.Va., native’s score is a season-high. Bieski tied UMD’s Abigail Adams and Allison Krikorian for third place with her season-high 9.775 vault, while sophomore Tina Maloney preceded Tabor with a 9.75 and finished fifth overall. Additionally, senior Ashley Wilson opened the Mountaineers' rotation with a career-high 9.675 vault.
WVU and UMD were side-by-side through two rotations with matching 97.25 scores after respectively scoring 48.5 on bars and 48.675 on vault. The Wolfpack tallied 47.45 on beam and trailed in third place with 96.025 points, while the Colonials scored 48.1 on floor and rounded out the quartet with a running total of 95.725.
Bieski’s winning bars routine highlighted a Mountaineers’ rotation which saw five gymnast earn season-high scores. Sophomore Nicole Roach followed Bieski in the lineup and on the podium with a season-high, third-place 9.75 showing. Wilson and junior Emily Kerwin finished third on the team with 9.675 points, while junior Faye Meaden scored 9.625.
The Terrapins’ 48.325 bars score pushed UMD’s running tally to 145.575 and past the Mountaineers through three rotations. WVU kept pace, scoring 48.075 on beam for a team score of 145.325. The Wolfpack earned 48.725 on floor and sat in third with 144.75 points, while the Colonials vaulted to a 47.15 team score and trailed the field with 142.875 points.
Bieski rose to the top of the Mountaineers’ rotation again on beam with her second-place 9.775 routine. Tabor and classmate Shelly Purkat were also strong for WVU, as each scored 9.7 and tied for fifth place.
The Mountaineers overcame the Terrapins with the aforementioned strong floor lineup in the fourth rotation. The Wolfpack concluded the meet with a 48.475 vault score, while the Colonials tallied 45.775 on bars.
WVU and UMD will square off again in six days when the Mountaineers travel to College Park, Md., on Jan. 30 for a 4 p.m. quad-meet with Denver and Rutgers.
