Wolverines Defeat No. 10 Nebraska To Open Season

Friday, January 7

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

195.900

194.200

Nebraska

1/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team took hold of a highly competitive meet against the No. 10-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday night (Jan. 7), kicking off its 2005 season with a 195.900-194.200 win in front of a crowd of 3,366 at Crisler Arena. Sophomore Lindsey Bruck (Marietta, N.Y./Marcellus HS) garnered a second-place all-around finish with a score of 38.750 and helped U-M to an impressive victory in the early season.

Coming out of the first rotation, the Wolverines posted an early lead with a score of 49.200 to Nebraska's 48.800. Michigan began the night's competition on vault with strong and consistent performances, with junior Jenny Deiley (Dayton, Minn./Elk River) posting an impressive first-place finish with a 9.900 while senior Shanna Duggan (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario) contributed to the team's success with a score of 9.875. Freshman Katie Lieberman (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) posted a third-place finish on vault with a score of 9.850 followed by sophomore Carol McNamara (Hastings, Minn./Hastings) tallying a fourth-place finish with a 9.825.

In the second rotation, U-M moved to the uneven bars where three Wolverines took hold of the event and maintained a lead over Nebraska. Fifth-year senior Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) scored a 9.925 to take first place and garner the 19th bars title of her career. Senior Lauren Mirkovich (Burlingame, Calif./Notre Dame) took second place on the bars, posting a score of 9.875, while Deiley (9.800) tied for third place with Nebraska's Richelle Simpson and Kristi Esposito. The Wolverines came out of the second rotation with a score of 98.350 to the Cornhuskers' 96.925.

Michigan moved to the balance beam for the third rotation where Bruck took the title with a score of 9.900. The Cornhuskers' Emily Parsons and Desire' Sniatynski tied for second place on beam.

In the fourth and final rotation of the night, Michigan maintained a 1.725-point lead after outstanding performances. Senior Chelsea Kroll (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) came away with her first career title on floor with a 9.900, while junior Becca Clauson (St. Paul Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) recorded a second-place finish with a score of 9.875.

The Wolverines will travel to Ohio State on Jan. 15 to take on Ohio State with Maryland and Minnesota.

Final Results

Team Scores	Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
1. MICHIGAN	49.200	49.125	48.925	48.625	195.900
2. Nebraska	48.125	48.800	48.650	48.625	194.200

Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores

VAULT Lauren Mirkovich 9.600 Carol McNamara 9.825 (4) Lindsey Bruck 9.800 (t5) Katie Lieberman 9.850 (3) Jenny Deiley 9.900 (1) Shanna Duggan 9.875 (2) UNEVEN BARS Kara Rosella 9.700 Nellie Kippley 9.775 Lindsey Bruck 9.775 Jenny Deiley 9.800 (t3) Lauren Mirkovich 9.850 (2) Elise Ray 9.925 (1) BALANCE BEAM Nellie Kippley 9.700 Chelsea Kroll 9.800 (t5) Kara Rosella 9.725 Jenny Deiley 9.800 (t5) Becca Clauson 9.275 Lindsey Bruck 9.900 (1) FLOOR EXERCISE Nellie Kippley 9.800 (t4) Carol McNamara 9.675 Chelsea Kroll 9.900 (1) Lindsey Bruck 9.375 Jenny Deiley 9.025 Becca Clauson 9.875 (2) ALL-AROUND Lindsey Bruck 38.800 (2) Jenny Deiley 38.525 (4)