Gymnastics: No. 1 UF, UNH and GW Visit
February 19, 2011 12:48 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following a two-week road trip, the West Virginia gymnastics team returns to the WVU Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 20, and plays host to No. 1 Florida, along with East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) foes New Hampshire and George Washington, at 1 p.m.
The Mountaineers’ (6-4, 3-1) first home quad-meet of the season also is a “Dollar Day,” with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for $1 each.
WVU is undefeated this season at the Coliseum, having defeated Michigan State on Jan. 14, and Pitt and Rutgers on Jan. 29. Additionally, the Mountaineers are 3-1 against league opposition, with their only loss a narrow 194.55-194.475 defeat at then-No. 10 NC State on Jan. 21.
“I think the quality of gymnastics competing in the Coliseum tomorrow is outstanding,” says 37-year coach Linda Burdette-Good. “This meet is a nice opportunity for fans to see four great teams.”
Tomorrow’s meet is the first between the Mountaineers and the Gators, both members of the Southeast region, since 2006, when UF scored a 196.95-194.2 victory in Gainesville, Fla. All-time, UF owns a 10-2 series advantage.
WVU defeated UNH, 195.075-194.7, at the Wildcat-hosted 2010 EAGL Championship. All-time, the Mountaineers own a 24-7 record.
The Mountaineers tallied two victories over the Colonials last season, a 194.0-188.65 home win and a 195.75-193.575 win at the league championship. WVU is up in the all-time series, 39-1.
All-time, WVU is 255-63-3 (.799) against league opposition. The squad currently ranks third in the EAGL with a 194.046 average.
The Mountaineers enter tomorrow’s meet on the heels of 195.5-195.1 loss at No. 15 Ohio State on Feb. 12; the team total was a season-best score.
“I think our team has been doing very well over the last few weeks, and I think everyone is excited to get back in front of the Mountaineer fans,” Burdette-Good says. “Our goal is to build on the season-high mark we hit last week. All we have to do is take care of our business, minimize our mistakes and make the same routines we hit in the gym every day.”
Senior all-arounder Amy Bieski finished third overall with a season-best 39.2 score. The reigning EAGL Gymnast of the Week scored a victory on bars (9.8) and finished second on vault (9.875); both scores were season highs.
Bieski currently ranks No. 8 on the all-time WVU career points list with 1,745.6 points. She is 49.725 points away from passing Beth Foltz (1988-91) on the list.
Freshman Hope Sloanhoffer, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the league on vault (9.836 average) and beam (9.779 average), respectively, won beam at OSU with a season-best 9.875 score. Additionally, sophomore Kaylyn Millick finished second on floor with a 9.85 mark.
The Gators (8-0, 5-0 SEC) most recently defeated No. 22 Auburn, 196.85-194.95, in their home season finale on Feb. 18. UF trumped the Tigers despite resting a few of its nationally ranked all-arounders; it was the first meet the Gators did not have an all-arounder in the lineup since March 11, 2007.
UF scored a nation-best 197.725 in its win at No. 5 Georgia on Feb. 12 and boasts the No. 4-ranked all-arounder in Alaina Johnson (39.34 average).
UNH (7-3, 2-1 EAGL) ranks second in the EAGL with a 194.154 average. The Wildcats most recently scored 194.65 on Feb. 12 and defeated Michigan State, Brown and Alaska at the UNH Invitational.
The Wildcats boast three gymnasts ranked in the Top 3 in the league. Katie Caliendo ranks No. 1 on beam (9.8 average), while Austyn Fobes and Chelsea Steinberg rank No. 3 on floor (9.825) and all-around (38.8), respectively.
GW (8-6, 1-2 EAGL) ranks eighth in the league with a 191.215 average. The Colonials also enter tomorrow’s meet following a season-best performance, as they defeated William & Mary, 192.5-187.825, on Feb. 13. The squad also earned a season-high 48.2 on bars.
All-arounder Leslie Delima is the story for GW this season, as she ranks No. 2 in the league with a 38.805 average. She also ranks No. 3 on beam (9.77 average).
A free WVU student shuttle bus service will be available from the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop for an hour leading up to the meet’s start time. Return service to the Mountainlair and the Brooke/ Braxton Towers loop also will be available at the conclusion of the meet.
Fans wishing to follow the Mountaineers from home can find links for live stats and a live video feed at www.MSNsportsNET.com
The Mountaineers’ (6-4, 3-1) first home quad-meet of the season also is a “Dollar Day,” with all tickets, hot dogs, popcorn and Coca-Colas available for $1 each.
WVU is undefeated this season at the Coliseum, having defeated Michigan State on Jan. 14, and Pitt and Rutgers on Jan. 29. Additionally, the Mountaineers are 3-1 against league opposition, with their only loss a narrow 194.55-194.475 defeat at then-No. 10 NC State on Jan. 21.
“I think the quality of gymnastics competing in the Coliseum tomorrow is outstanding,” says 37-year coach Linda Burdette-Good. “This meet is a nice opportunity for fans to see four great teams.”
Tomorrow’s meet is the first between the Mountaineers and the Gators, both members of the Southeast region, since 2006, when UF scored a 196.95-194.2 victory in Gainesville, Fla. All-time, UF owns a 10-2 series advantage.
WVU defeated UNH, 195.075-194.7, at the Wildcat-hosted 2010 EAGL Championship. All-time, the Mountaineers own a 24-7 record.
The Mountaineers tallied two victories over the Colonials last season, a 194.0-188.65 home win and a 195.75-193.575 win at the league championship. WVU is up in the all-time series, 39-1.
All-time, WVU is 255-63-3 (.799) against league opposition. The squad currently ranks third in the EAGL with a 194.046 average.
The Mountaineers enter tomorrow’s meet on the heels of 195.5-195.1 loss at No. 15 Ohio State on Feb. 12; the team total was a season-best score.
“I think our team has been doing very well over the last few weeks, and I think everyone is excited to get back in front of the Mountaineer fans,” Burdette-Good says. “Our goal is to build on the season-high mark we hit last week. All we have to do is take care of our business, minimize our mistakes and make the same routines we hit in the gym every day.”
Senior all-arounder Amy Bieski finished third overall with a season-best 39.2 score. The reigning EAGL Gymnast of the Week scored a victory on bars (9.8) and finished second on vault (9.875); both scores were season highs.
Bieski currently ranks No. 8 on the all-time WVU career points list with 1,745.6 points. She is 49.725 points away from passing Beth Foltz (1988-91) on the list.
Freshman Hope Sloanhoffer, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the league on vault (9.836 average) and beam (9.779 average), respectively, won beam at OSU with a season-best 9.875 score. Additionally, sophomore Kaylyn Millick finished second on floor with a 9.85 mark.
The Gators (8-0, 5-0 SEC) most recently defeated No. 22 Auburn, 196.85-194.95, in their home season finale on Feb. 18. UF trumped the Tigers despite resting a few of its nationally ranked all-arounders; it was the first meet the Gators did not have an all-arounder in the lineup since March 11, 2007.
UF scored a nation-best 197.725 in its win at No. 5 Georgia on Feb. 12 and boasts the No. 4-ranked all-arounder in Alaina Johnson (39.34 average).
UNH (7-3, 2-1 EAGL) ranks second in the EAGL with a 194.154 average. The Wildcats most recently scored 194.65 on Feb. 12 and defeated Michigan State, Brown and Alaska at the UNH Invitational.
The Wildcats boast three gymnasts ranked in the Top 3 in the league. Katie Caliendo ranks No. 1 on beam (9.8 average), while Austyn Fobes and Chelsea Steinberg rank No. 3 on floor (9.825) and all-around (38.8), respectively.
GW (8-6, 1-2 EAGL) ranks eighth in the league with a 191.215 average. The Colonials also enter tomorrow’s meet following a season-best performance, as they defeated William & Mary, 192.5-187.825, on Feb. 13. The squad also earned a season-high 48.2 on bars.
All-arounder Leslie Delima is the story for GW this season, as she ranks No. 2 in the league with a 38.805 average. She also ranks No. 3 on beam (9.77 average).
A free WVU student shuttle bus service will be available from the Mountainlair and the Brooke/Braxton Towers loop for an hour leading up to the meet’s start time. Return service to the Mountainlair and the Brooke/ Braxton Towers loop also will be available at the conclusion of the meet.
Fans wishing to follow the Mountaineers from home can find links for live stats and a live video feed at www.MSNsportsNET.com
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