Michigan
Arizona
Weekly Release #9: at Arizona, at UCLA
2/29/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Upcoming Schedule
Meet #9:Â No. 2 Michigan at No. 23 Arizona
Friday, March 3, 7:30 p.m. MST, Tucson, Ariz., McKale Center
Series:Â Tied 2-2
Meet #10:Â No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 4 UCLA
Sunday, March 5, 2 p.m. PST, Los Angeles, Calif., Pauley Pavilion
Series:Â Tied 3-3
Michigan Heads West
The University of Michigan women's gymnastics team leaves for its final road trip of the 2000 regular season as the Wolverines travel west for meets at No. 23 Arizona and No. 4 UCLA. The first stop on the trip for Michigan is at Arizona on Friday, March 3 (7:30 p.m. MST) in a rematch of a 1999 dual meet in Cliff Keen Arena, which Michigan won handily 197.025-193.750. The Wolverines then head to UCLA for a meet on Sunday, March 5 (2 p.m. PST). Michigan and UCLA are meeting for the seventh time, with the Wolverines winning the last meeting 197.400-195.700 on "Senior Night" at Cliff Keen Arena in 1999.
About Arizona ...
Arizona is 5-8 overall and ranked No. 23 in the country ... Arizona's highest score of the season is a 195.600, which came in a loss to Minnesota (Feb. 20) ... Randi Liljenquist owns Arizona's top all-around score this season, with a 39.425 vs. Minnesota ... Arizona lost to No. 5 Utah 196.525-193.475 in its last meet ... Arizona on the Internet: www.arizcats.com.
About UCLA ...
UCLA is 13-5 and ranked No. 4 in the nation ... The Bruins met Michigan at the Super Six Challenge (Jan. 8), but lost to the Wolverines 194.925-193.300 ... UCLA's top score this season is 197.800, which came in a win over Stanford (Feb. 6) ... UCLA's last loss came to No. 5 Utah 196.350-195.150 at Utah (Feb. 14) ... UCLA's top gymnast is Heidi Moneymaker, who has a season-best 39.775 in the all-around and is averaging 39.211 in the all-around ... UCLA on the Internet: www.uclabruins.com.
Michigan-UCLA Series Has Been Tight
Michigan and UCLA have met in the regular season on six occasions, with the series knotted at three apiece. Michigan defeated UCLA 197.400-195.700 in 1999, breaking a two-meet series win streak by the Bruins. A pair of Michigan wins preceded those two wins by UCLA in 1995, while UCLA handed Michigan its only regular-season loss in 1994. Michigan and UCLA have also squared off in the Super Six NCAA Finals on five occasions this decade. During those five occasions, Michigan has held the upper hand in 1994, 1995 and 1999, while UCLA got the better of the Wolverines in 1996 and 1997. The Michigan-UCLA series:
| 1999Â Â | U-M | 197.400-195.700 |
| 1998 | UCLAÂ Â Â Â | 195.400-192.600 |
| 1997 | UCLA | 196.925-195.975 |
| 1995 | U-M | 194.675-194.300 |
| 1995 | U-M | 196.625-194.700 |
| 1994 | UCLA | 192.875-191.950 |
Michigan-Arizona Rematch
Michigan and Arizona meet for the second straight season in a dual meet and for the fifth time overall. Michigan won the 1999 meeting 197.025-193.750 in one of its best efforts of the season. Sarah Cain (Grand Island, Neb./Grand Island HS) notched a 1999 Michigan season-best all-around score of 39.625 to pace Michigan to its third-best team score of the season. In fact, the Maize and Blue notched a team season-best 49.500 on the uneven bars to pace the victory.
Wolverines Hope for Repeat of 1999 vs. Bruins
Michigan's win over UCLA in 1999 was its best effort of the season as the Wolverines recorded a team season-best 197.400 final score. A team season-high 49.575 on the vault keyed the Wolverine victory as Sarah Cain notched Michigan's only perfect 10 of 1999 on the vault. Competing in her final home meet, senior Lisa Simes (1996-99) won the all-around competition with a score of 39.450.
Wolverines Back on Winning Track
Michigan returned home to Cliff Keen Arena and promptly snapped a modest two-meet losing streak. The second-ranked Wolverines dumped No. 20 Maryland 197.275-193.000 (Feb. 26) to run their home record to 3-1 for the 2000 campaign. Michigan senior Sarah Cain won the all-around a personal season-best 39.750 to pace the Wolverine victory. Michigan opened up a big 49.275-48.650 lead after the first rotation, with a solid vault performance. The Maize and Blue's lead widened after the second rotation, in which Michigan nailed a season-best 49.450 on the bars. After earning a 49.000 on the balance beam in the third rotation, Michigan delivered a season-best 49.550 on the floor exercise in the final rotation to close out the win.
Cain Sweeps All Five Events
Michigan senior tri-captain Sarah Cain swept all five events for the first time this season en route to a season-best 39.750 in the all-around in Michigan's win over No. 20 Maryland (Feb. 26). Cain won the vault for the fifth straight meet and matched her season-best of 9.950. Cain also matched her season high on the uneven bars with a mark of 9.925 to tie for first on that event with teammate Bridget Knaeble (New Hope, Minn./Totino-Grace HS). Cain also matched her season best on the balance beam to win that competition with a 9.925 before closing out the meet by winning the floor exercise with a personal season-best 9.950. Cain's all-around score of 39.750 is the fifth-best mark in school history:
| 1. | 39.825 | Sarah Cain | vs. Nebraska, Illinois (1997) |
| 39.825 | Beth Wymer | vs. Western Michigan (1994) | |
| 3. | 39.800 | Beth Wymer | vs. N.C. State, Penn State, UMass (1995) |
| 39.800 | Beth Wymer | vs. Kentucky (1994) | |
| 5. | 39.750 | Sarah Cain | vs. Maryland (2000) |
Wolverines Gain Momentum on Bars
The Maize and Blue delivered its best team performance of the season on the uneven bars (49.450) in its win over Maryland (Feb. 26). All six Wolverines in the bars lineup notched scores of 9.800 or better and five Michigan athletes finished tied for fourth or better on that event. Sarah Cain and Bridget Knaeble, who tied for first on the uneven bars, led Michigan. The Wolverines' previous season best on the bars was 49.400, which they recorded vs. Kentucky (Jan. 28). Heading into last weekend's action Michigan had the fourth-best bar average in the nation (49.050), but that could change after the Wolverines upped that average to 49.100. Michigan's 49.450 mark on the uneven bars is tied for fifth best in school history:
| 49.550Â Â | 1997 at Magical Classic |
| 49.525 | 1996 at Big Ten Championships |
| 49.500 | 1999 vs. Minnesota |
| 49.475 | 1997 vs. Oregon State |
| 49.450 | 2000 vs. Maryland |
| 49.450 | 1997 NCAA Central Regional Championships |
Michigan Floors Terps
The bars lineup was not the only Michigan group to shine in its win over No. 20 Maryland (Feb. 26). Michigan's floor lineup also produced a team season-best score of 49.550, with all six Michigan gymnasts placing in a tie for fifth or better on the event. Michigan entered the meet vs. Maryland ranked third in the nation on the floor with an average score of 49.171 and the Wolverines have now upped that average to 49.219. Michigan's 49.550 mark on the floor exercise is tied for fifth best in school history:
| 49.600Â Â | 1999 at Michigan State |
| 49.600 | 1998 at Kentucky |
| 49.600 | 1997 vs. Oregon State |
| 49.575 | 1998 vs. Michigan State |
| 49.550 | 2000 vs. Maryland |
| 49.550 | 1997 at Georgia |
| 49.550 | 1997 NCAA Central Regional Championships |
Senior Gets Stronger
Michigan junior Karina Senior (Markham, Ontario/Milliken Mills HS) competed in the all-around for the first time in four meets in Michigan's win over No. 20 Maryland (Feb. 26). Senior returned to the all-around lineup in fine fashion by posting a career-best mark of 39.525 as she placed among the top three in all five events. Senior matched her career best on the vault (9.825), while recording a career high on the uneven bars (9.900). Senior also nailed a season best on the balance beam (9.875), while continuing her mastery of the floor exercise with a mark of 9.925.
Michigan Team Score Among All-Time Best
Michigan's team score of 197.275 vs. No. 20 Maryland (Feb. 26) is the seventh-best team score in school history and second best this season. Michigan's top team total this season and fourth-best mark all-time of 197.500 came in its win over Kentucky (Jan. 28). Michigan's top seven team scores in school history:
| 197.700 | 1997 NCAA Regional Championships |
| 197.550 | 1998 vs. Michigan State |
| 197.550 | 1998 vs. Massachusetts |
| 197.500 | 2000 vs. Kentucky |
| 197.400 | 1999 vs. UCLA/Rutgers |
| 197.300 | 1997 vs. Nebraska/Illinois State |
| 197.275 | 2000 vs. Maryland |
Career Best for Freshman
Cami Singer (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer HS) delivered her career-best 9.875 on the uneven bars in Michigan's win over No. 20 Maryland (Feb. 26). Singer's score of 9.875 marked the second straight meet in which she recorded a 9.800 or better on the bars after averaging a 9.363 in her first two collegiate bar routines. Singer also tied for fourth on that event vs. Maryland, which marked the first time she placed among the top five on that event.
Other Season Bests vs. Maryland
Pair of Wolverine veterans earned personal season bests on the uneven bars in Michigan's win over No. 20 Maryland (Feb. 26). Bridget Knaeble's mark of 9.925 on the bars is a season best as is Kate Nellans' (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein HS) 9.850.
Plocki Earns 200th Win
Michigan head coach Bev Plocki, now in her 11th season at the helm of Michigan women's gymnastics, earned her 200th career win as the Wolverines went 4-0 at the State of Michigan Classic (Feb. 6). Plocki inherited a Michigan program which had more than 15 wins in a season only once in its first 14 years of existence dating back to 1976. Since Plocki took over in 1990, the Wolverines have averaged more than 19 wins a season and have 20 wins or more on six occasions under her direction. Plocki is now 202-61 all-time at the University of Michigan.
Cain Moving Up the Charts
Sarah Cain's eight All-America citations ties her for third on Michigan's all-time list with Heather Kabnick (1995-98). Wendy Marshall (1993-96) is second on the list with 10 All-America honors, while Beth Wymer (1992-95) heads the list with 14 All-America honors earned.
Tri-Captains
The 2000 University of Michigan women's gymnastics team has tri-captains leading the squad. Senior Sarah Cain is joined by juniors Bridget Knaeble and Brianne Fuller (W. Bowdoin, Maine/Mount Ararat HS). Cain was a tri-captain in 1999 as a junior as well.
GymInfo Top 25 (2/22/2000)
RANK, TEAM AVERAGE
1. Georgia 196.428
2. MICHIGAN 196.182
3. Alabama 196.138
4. UCLA 196.050
5. Utah 195.921
6. Louisiana State 195.354
7. Nebraska 195.294
8. Stanford 195.079
9. Penn State 194.745
10. Oklahoma 194.738
11. Iowa State 194.607
12. North Carolina State 194.446
13. West Virginia 194.283
Brigham Young 194.283
15. Denver 194.250
16. Washington 194.146
17. Arizona State 194.089
18. Minnesota 193.942
19. Florida 193.904
20. Maryland 193.683
21. New Hampshire 193.650
22. Cal State-Fullerton 193.532
23. Arizona 193.519
24. Boise State 193.325
25. Kent State 193.321
Tracking Michigan in the Rankings
Preseason 7th Jan. 11 3rd Jan. 18 6th Jan. 25 3rd Feb. 1 2nd Feb. 8 3rd Feb. 15 3rd Feb. 22 2nd
Players Mentioned
