Michigan
Michigan State
Large Crowd Witnesses U-M Victory Over Michigan State
1/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 17 University of Michigan women's gymnastics team welcomed an opponent into Crisler Arena for the first time this season, hosting the Michigan State Spartans today (Saturday, Jan. 31). The crowd of 3,903, the fourth largest ever at Crisler Arena for a women's gymnastics meet, witnessed a 197.075-195.250 win by the Wolverines.
| | Ray won the vault and tied for first on the uneven bars en route to the all-around title. |
Bruck opened the meet with a stuck landing on vault that merited a 9.675. Sophomore Becca Clauson (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham HS) followed her with a quality performance, posting a 9.775. Freshman Clare Flannery (Ossining, N.Y./School of the Holy Child HS) and Carol McNamara (Hastings, Minn./Hastings HS) continued the string of solid performances, each executing impressive vaults marred only by a solitary step on their respective landings. Flannery's efforts earned her a 9.775, with McNamara receiving a 9.825. Ryals' 9.850 and Ray's 9.900 capped off a steady first rotation for the Maize and Blue. The Wolverines enjoyed a 49.125-48.675 lead as they headed for the bars.
Junior Chelsea Kroll (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny HS) got the Wolverines off to a flying start on bars with a 9.800. Bruck likewise scored a 9.800. Ryals turned in a tight routine diminished only by a moderate step forward on her dismount. Ray had a solid routine good enough for a 9.900. Not to be outdone, Jenny Deiley (Dayton, Minn./Elk River HS) returned from injury with a flawless landing that scored another 9.900. Lauren Mirkovich (Burlingame, Calif./Notre Dame HS) held onto her routine, closing out an excellent rotation for the Wolverines with a 9.825. Michigan left the bars with a score of 49.225 that eclipsed the Spartans' effort of 48.500 on vault. At the end of the second rotation, the Maize and Blue held a 98.350-97.175 lead.
On the balance beam, Kroll got the team off on the right foot with a 9.800. Bruck turned in a strong contribution with a 9.900. Clauson's routine was steady, earning her a score of 9.850, while Ryals was near perfect on the beam. A small step on her landing was the only blemish in a routine that netted a 9.900 for the Wolverines. Closing out the rotation, Ray fought back from a small bobble on her double turn to score a 9.875. The Wolverines bested their team totals on the previous two rotations with a 49.325. This was good enough to further expand their lead, despite a 49.025 by MSU on the floor. As the teams marched to their final apparatus, the Wolverines found themselves leading 147.625-146.200.
McNamara opened with a 9.800 on the floor while Clauson followed with a similar routine and similar score (9.825). After Bruck scored a 9.875, Kroll followed with her best floor routine of the season, a 9.875. Ray's 9.900 set the stage for Ryals, who closed the meet for Michigan with an exclamation point by winning the competition with a 9.925. Michigan's team score on the floor exercise, 49.400, was its finest of the night, and pushed its team total to 197.075.
The Wolverines will be back in action again next Friday (Feb. 6) at Crisler Arena, where they will host Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Michigan State and Western Michigan at the Michigan Classic.
Final Results
| Team Scores | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. MICHIGAN | 48.125 | 49.225 | 49.325 | 49.400 | 197.075 |
| 2. Michigan State | 48.500 | 48.675 | 49.050 | 49.025 | 195.250 |
Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores
ALL-AROUND Elise Ray 39.575 (1) Calli Ryals 39.475 (2) Lindsey Bruck 39.250 (t3) VAULT Lindsey Bruck 9.675 Becca Clauson 9.775 (4t) Clare Flannery 9.775 (4t) Carol McNamara 9.825 (3) Calli Ryals 9.850 (2) Elise Ray 9.900 (1) UNEVEN BARS Chelsea Kroll 9.800 Lindsey Bruck 9.800 Calli Ryals 9.800 Elise Ray 9.900 (1t) Jenny Deiley 9.900 (1t) Lauren Mirkovich 9.825 (3) BALANCE BEAM Chelsea Kroll 9.800 Carol McNamara 9.125 Lindsey Bruck 9.900 (1t) Becca Clauson 9.850 (5) Calli Ryals 9.900 (1t) Elise Ray 9.875 (4) FLOOR EXERCISE Carol McNamara 9.800 Becca Clauson 9.825 Lindsey Bruck 9.875 (3t) Chelsea Kroll 9.875 (3t) Elise Ray 9.900 (2) Calli Ryals 9.925 (1) ( ) denotes place in the Top 5
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Bev Plocki
On the team's performance ... "I'm really happy with the meet. Having Jenny (Deiley) and Lauren (Mirkovich) back in the bars lineup really helped us. We hope we can use these two on more events soon. I'm really impressed with everyone tonight."
On the crowd ... "Having all the kids made it a fun atmosphere. It really helped give the team an energy boost, especially on floor."
Contact: Jessica Steyers (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
