Gymnastics Sweeps at NC State
January 31, 2015 09:46 PM | General
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RALEIGH, N.C. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team put on a show at NC State this evening, scoring a season-best 195.35 and finishing first at the Wolfpack’s quad-meet inside Reynolds Coliseum.
North Carolina (8-3, 3-1 EAGL) finished second with a 194.5 score, while NC State (2-4, 0-1 EAGL) placed third (194.05) and William & Mary (2-5) finished fourth (192.125).
Tonight’s mark is WVU’s (4-4-1, 0-0-1) first road score of 195.0 or better since scoring 195.45 at George Washington on March 10, 2013. The squad’s victory over the Wolfpack is the team’s first win in Raleigh since 2007.
“This is a tough, tough environment to come into and win, so tonight should be a huge confidence boost for this team,” said Mountaineer coach Jason Butts. “We had great support here tonight from our fans, and we could hear them all cheering for us.
“I feel like the pieces are finally coming together. I’m very happy – this is our best road showing in two seasons. Having said that, we are not maxed out at this score – we can push for that 196.0 mark.”
Sitting in third place after two rotations, the Mountaineers powered through on floor and vault, scoring 49.0 or better on both events, including a season-high 49.025 on floor, and surging ahead for the sweep.
Needing a strong showing in the opening rotation, the Mountaineers hit six-for-six on the uneven bars and opened the meet in second place with a 48.65 total, their second-best mark on the apparatus this season. As she’s done all year, sophomore Alexa Goldberg paced the team in the anchor position and tallied a 9.85 for her third win of the season. Freshman Zaakira Muhammad finished tied for third with a 9.775, while sophomore Brooklyn Doggette tallied 9.7 and tied for 10th.
The Mountaineers hit six-for-six on beam for the fourth straight week and scored 48.6 in the second rotation, their second-best mark of the year. After two events, WVU stood in third place with a 97.25 mark.
Three Mountaineers – junior Melissa Idell, sophomore Nicolette Swoboda and Goldberg - scored 9.75 and finished tied for sixth place; it was the first career beam routine for Goldberg. Additionally, freshman Jordan Gillette scored a career-best 9.675, a mark matched by senior Beth Deal, and the duo placed 13th.
WVU put on a show in the third rotation, pushing ahead to first place with a three-event score 146.275 following a season-high 49.025 showing on floor. Idell and senior Dayah Haley anchored with career-high 9.875s, tying for the floor win. The event win is the second career victory for Haley and the first for Idell. Swoboda and senior Brittney Harris each scored a season-high 9.775 and tied for 10th place, while sophomore Mackenzie Myers made her season floor debut and scored 9.725.
“We were a bit rattled after a fall early in the floor lineup, but we gathered the team and told them they had a good thing going on the road,” said Butts. “They all stepped up and did a great job, and then they carried that momentum to vault and finished strong.”
The Mountaineers closed the meet with a 49.075 showing on vault, their second-best mark of the season. Junior Jaida Lawrence matched her season-high score of 9.9 and earned her second straight vault victory; the Rocky Hill, Connecticut, native owns four podium finishes this season. Muhammad and Swoboda tied for fourth place with 9.85s, a career high for Muhammad and a season best for Swoboda. Haley opened the rotation with a 9.8 mark, good enough for eighth place.
Goldberg earned her first career all-around appearance tonight and finished seventh with a 38.3 score.
With the wins, WVU improves to 26-14 against the Wolfpack, 28-15 against the Tar Heels and 16-0 against the Tribe.
Of note, the Mountaineers and the Tar Heels will meet again at Pitt on February 28 at Fitzgerald Field House.
WVU next travels to No. 24 New Hampshire for a quad-meet with Towson and Brown on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m., at Lundholm Gym, in Durham, New Hampshire.
Mountaineer Invitational Recap
Thursday, April 16
College Basketball Crown Recap
Thursday, April 16
Andrew Powdrell | April 15
Thursday, April 16
Coach Pat Kirkland | April 15
Thursday, April 16
