GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The West Virginia University gymnastics team earned a second-place finish in its season-opening quad meet at No. 2 Florida with Ball State and Lindenwood at the Exactech Arena in Gainesville, Florida, on Friday night.
The host Gators took first place with a score of 197.750, while the Mountaineers followed with a 194.925. Ball State took third place after posting a 194.100, followed by Lindenwood in fourth with a 193.125. West Virginia didn't have to count a fall in any rotation.
For the second straight season, WVU (2-1) opened the campaign on uneven bars, tallying an event score of 48.5. Senior
Emily Holmes-Hackerd paced the rotation, earning a 9.825. Sophomore
Anna Leigh followed with a 9.8, while fifth-year senior
Kendra Combs added a 9.725. Senior
Kianna Yancey and junior
Chloe Asper rounded out the lineup with matching 9.575s. Of note, Asper's bars routine marked her career debut on the event.
In the team's second rotation on balance beam, WVU secured another 48.5. Asper continued to shine on her best event, leading the way with a 9.8. Holmes-Hackerd added a 9.775, before classmate
Abbie Pierson secure a 9.7. Yancey (9.675) and Leigh (9.55) rounded out West Virginia's scoring on the event.
The Mountaineers went on to floor exercise, showing off on their best event and earning a 49.2. All five scoring gymnasts posted a 9.825 or higher. Junior
Kiana Lewis and Leigh earned a pair of 9.825s, before Yancey, Holmes-Hackerd and Pierson finished the lineup with three straight scores of 9.85.
In the final rotation on vault, WVU earned its second-best event score of the night with a 48.725. Pierson paced the squad with a 9.8, before Lewis, sophomore
Heidi Hartje and freshman
Brooke Irwin tallied three 9.575s. Freshman
Carlee Nelson rounded out the Mountaineers' scoring with a 9.65.
Of note, Irwin, Nelson and classmate
Emma Wehry made their Mountaineer debuts at Florida on Friday night.
Up next, the Mountaineers prepare to open their home slate, as they welcome Kent State and Maryland to Morgantown, on Friday, Jan 13. West Virginia's first-ever 80's Night inside the WVU Coliseum is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUGymnastics on
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