MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team bumped its regional qualifying score (RQS) to a season-high 195.665 and continues to sit at No. 25 in today’s Road to Nationals Rankings.

 

The Mountaineers (8-6, 0-3) did not move up in the rankings despite a more than one-tenth increase in their RQS following a season-best 196.8 showing in wins over Ohio State (195.975) and Bowling Green (195.725) on March 6 at the WVU Coliseum.

 

WVU has been ranked for three straight weeks and six total times this season. The squad was last ranked six times in one season in 2013.

 

The Mountaineers also check in at No. 16 on vault (49.04 RQS) and No. 19 on floor (49.135 RQS).

 

Individually, three Mountaineers continue to boast national rankings. Freshman Kirah Koshinski sits at No. 20 on vault (9.875 RQS), and sophomore Zaakira Muhammad follows at No. 27 (9.87 RQS). Additionally, junior Alexa Goldberg ranks No. 36 on bars (9.865 RQS).

 

Today’s rankings are the third of the season based on RQS. Qualification for NCAA regional competition is based on a team and individual’s six best regular-season scores, of which three must be away. To obtain the RQS, the high score is eliminated and the remaining five scores are averaged. The top 36-ranked schools as of March 21 will qualify for the 2016 NCAA Regional Championships.

 

Regionally, the Mountaineers rank No. 4 in the Southeast Region. WVU also ranks No. 3 on vault and No. 4 on floor, bars (48.895 RQS) and beam (48.81 RQS).

 

Koshinski and Goldberg own the Mountaineers’ top regional individual ranking, as the gymnasts check in at No. 7 on vault and bars, respectively. Koshinski also ranks a team-best No. 10 on floor (9.86 RQS), and Goldberg follows at No. 14 (9.84 RQS).

 

Muhammad owns the most regional rankings. The Pennsauken, New Jersey, native ranks No. 9 on vault, No. 12 on floor (9.85 RQS) and No. 21 on bars (9.795 RQS).

 

Senior Audrey Tolbert ranks a team-best No. 19 on beam (9.785 RQS). Classmate Melissa Idell follows at No. 21 (9.765 RQS). Idell also ranks No. 21 on floor (9.82 RQS).

 

Senior Jaida Lawrence and sophomore Robyn Bernard check in at No. 17 (9.81 RQS) and No. 23 (9.76 RQS), respectively, on vault. Additionally, freshman Tiara Wright sits at No. 21 on bars (9.795 RQS).

 

The Mountaineers rank No. 3 in the Big 12 Conference for the eighth straight week. The team also ranks No. 3 on all four events.

 

Koshinski ranks a team-high No. 4 on vault. The Berwick, Pennsylvania, native also ranks No. 10 on floor.

 

Goldberg ranks No. 6 on bars, and Muhammad sits at No. 7 on vault.

 

The Mountaineers have now scored back-to-back marks of 196.0 or better for the first time since 2013. Included in the team’s season-best performance on March 6 were season-high totals on bars (49.15), beam (49.075) and floor (49.575). WVU is one of eight teams nationally to score 49.575 or better on floor this season.

 

WVU closes its 2016 regular-season slate this weekend with two meets against Pitt. The Mountaineers play host to the Panthers in their home season finale at the WVU Coliseum on Friday, March 11, at 7 p.m. It’s a “Dollar Night,” and all tickets and select concessions will be available for $1 each. Additionally, it is “Senior Night,” and Idell, Lawrence and Tolbert will be honored following the competition.

 

 

The Mountaineers will then travel to Pittsburgh on Sunday, March 13, for a 2 p.m. dual-meet against the Panthers at Fitzgerald Field House.