PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Highlighted by freshman Abbie Pierson's third 9.9 of the season, the West Virginia University gymnastics team earned a big win against its regional rival Pitt, 194.925-194.575, on Friday evening, at Fitzgerald Field House, in Pittsburgh.
 
The Mountaineers (7-6, 0-2 Big 12) hit 23-for-24 routines and earned a 48.675-48.475 edge over the Panthers (5-5, 2-3 EAGL) on vault, a 48.875-48.4 win on uneven bars and a 49.0-48.875 victory on floor exercise. Pitt claimed the balance beam win, 48.825-48.375.
 
"I was happy with our performances on vault, bars and floor," Mountaineer coach Jason Butts said. "Obviously, I'm not thrilled with the way we started out on beam, especially since we had an incredible warmup. I was a little bit surprised with the way we came out of the gate on that event. With the exception of Rachel (Hornung) and Abby Kaufman, we're bouncing around.
 
"At the end of the day, that event should've easily been another seven or eight tenths. I told the team at the end of the event that we are all frustrated. They do such a great job in the gym every day improving it, and we're just not putting it together on the road. This team is better than what we are scoring, but we have no control over that. This team is definitely better than the performance that we put in tonight."
 
Individually, Pierson matched her career high and scored a 9.9 on vault for the first time since the Mountaineers' 2020 season opener on Jan. 11. The New Kensington, Pennsylvania, native won the event outright for the second time this season.
 
"That was the first time we've done the one and a half since Penn State," Butts said. "She just proved what a competitor she is. Not only did she do the vault again, but she stuck it cold. The confidence that she is going to get from that is going to go a long way. We're hoping that we can keep that in there because it clearly adds two tenths to our team score, so I'm very happy with her performance tonight."
 
Sophomore Rachel Hornung paced the Mountaineers on beam with a season-high mark of 9.85 and tied for first overall, while classmate Kendra Combs tied for first on floor with a 9.85 total.
 
A trio of Mountaineers highlighted WVU's bars lineup in the first rotation. Senior Chloe Cluchey, freshman Kianna Yancey and Combs scored matching 9.8s in a tie for third. The mark is a season high for Cluchey. Combs also matched her season best last set on Jan. 31. Freshman Kayla Yancey placed seventh with a 9.75, followed by sophomore Esperanza Abarca with a 9.725. Junior Sydney Marler anchored the rotation with a 9.7 score and finished ninth.
 
The Mountaineers tallied 48.675 on vault in the second rotation. Kianna Yancey opened the rotation with a 9.7 total and tied for fifth. Senior Julia Merwin followed with a 9.75 and tied for third overall. Junior Michelle Waldron and Cluchey added 9.675 and 9.625 marks, respectively. Pierson nailed her vault in the No. 5 slot, while freshman Maya Kraus scored a 9.65 in the anchor position and placed ninth.
 
WVU kept its momentum going in the third rotation, using three scores of 9.8 or better to tally 49.0 on floor. Of note, the Mountaineers have totaled 49.0 or better three times this season. Combs tied for first with a 9.85, while Pierson and Cluchey tied for third place with 9.825s. Senior Erica Fontaine and junior McKenna Linnen added matching 9.75 marks and tied for seventh. Abarca made he collegiate debut on floor and posted a 9.7 total in the anchor position.
 
WVU clinched its crucial road win with a 48.225 on beam. Competing in the lineup's fourth position, Hornung paced the Mountaineers with a 9.85 total. Pierson tied for fifth with a 9.75, while senior Abby Kaufman placed eighth with a 9.65. Abarca and Fontaine added marks of 9.575 and 9.55, respectively. Unfortunately, Linnen fell in series and ended with an 8.925.
 
With tonight's win, WVU pushes its commanding series advantage to 65-15-2.
 
"I'm excited to go back to the WVU Coliseum," Butts said. "I'm glad that this is not reversed. Obviously, we got the win today. They are really excited about that. It was one of our goals, so we'll carry that back into Morgantown. They can't wait to be back in the Coliseum, and it's going to be such a fun environment."
 
WVU concludes its weekend back home at the WVU Coliseum on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m. Sunday's meet is Beauty and the Beast. The WVU gymnastics team will compete against Western Michigan (5-4, 4-0 MAC), Bowling Green (5-5, 0-3 MAC) and Towson (6-3, 1-3 EAGL), while the wrestling team will grapple with Utah Valley simultaneously.
 
The second-ever Mountaineer Fan Festival also will be held prior to the start of competition, with the Coliseum Gold Gate opening at 12 p.m. A fan meet-and-greet on the Coliseum concourse will cap the day's events. Additionally, the first 500 Mountaineer Maniac students in attendance will receive free pizza and a giveaway item. Sunday also features special appearances by Mr. Twister, the face-painting and balloon animal artist, and Musket, the Mountaineer Kids Club's mascot. MKC members can pick up their t-shirts the day of the event.
 
One ticket gains fans admittance into Mountaineer Fan Fest and the Beauty and the Beast competition. Tickets are on sale now at WVUGAME.com and also will be available for purchase at the WVU Coliseum Gold Gate Ticket Office.
 
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.