Gymnastics: WVU Knocks Out North Carolina
March 13, 2010 03:41 PM | General
March 13, 2010
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| Amy Bieski |
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – West Virginia University’s gymnastics team came back from an early deficit and defeated North Carolina, 193.775-193.0, today at the Carmichael Auditorium.
The win is the Mountaineers’ (13-7, 7-0 EAGL) first on the road since sweeping the Maryland quad meet on Jan. 30. Additionally, the victory is WVU’s seventh of the season over an East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) opponent.
“We showed today that we can overcome early miscues and maintain our focus,” says 36-year coach Linda Burdette-Good. “Though we still have a lot to work on in the gym, I’m pleased with today’s result.”
WVU and UNC (8-6, 1-3 EAGL) split rotations today, with the Mountaineers winning vault (48.975-48.9) and beam (48.45-47.475) and the Tar Heels finishing first on bars (47.85-47.725) and floor (48.775-48.625).
Junior Amy Bieski put together a solid meet and finished first overall with 39.125 points. The Nanticoke, Pa., native has passed the 39.0-point threshold in six of the last eight meets and owns 13 career 39.0-plus marks, the sixth-best program mark.
With today’s score, Bieski pushes her career point total to 1,357.85 and needs 19.4 points to break onto the WVU all-time career points list.
WVU trailed UNC out of the gate, scoring 47.725 on bars while the Tar Heels’ tallied 48.9 on vault.
A pair of Mountaineers paced the squad in the first rotation, as Bieski and sophomore Nicole Roach finished second overall with matching 9.75 scores. Senior Ashley Wilson and sophomore Emily Kerwin earned 9.65 scores, the team’s second-best mark.
The Mountaineers earned 48.975 on vault and pulled to within 0.05 points of the Tar Heels after two rotations, 96.75-96.7. UNC scored 47.85 on bars.
The backend of WVU’s vault lineup performed exceptionally well, as sophomore Tina Maloney, senior Chelsi Tabor and Bieski all earned 9.825 points with near-sticks and tied for first place overall; Maloney’s score is a season-best. Junior Stephanie Keaton opened the rotation with a career-best 9.75.
WVU overcame the Tar Heels’ advantage in the third rotation, scoring 48.625 on floor and pushing its team total to 145.325. UNC earned 47.475 on beam for a cumulative score of 144.225.
Bieski put together her best routine since Feb. 12 and scored 9.85 points, good enough for third place. Senior Kiersten Spoerke and Tabor finished behind Bieski with 9.725 scores. The mark is a career-best for Tabor, a Beckley, W.Va., native, while Spoerke, a native of Suwanee, Ga., took to the floor for the first time since Feb. 12.
WVU’s 48.45 beam score in the fourth rotation solidified its victory. UNC closed the meet on floor and earned 48.775 points.
Senior Shelly Purkat returned to the beam with a third-place, 9.725 score. Bieski and Spoerke sandwiched Purkat’s routine with 9.7 showings.
The Mountaineers close out their regular-season schedule and play host to Bridgeport on Friday, March 19, at 7 p.m., at the WVU Coliseum. The meet will be the final home dual contest for four WVU seniors – Purkat, Spoerke, Tabor and Wilson.
