March 11, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The 18th-ranked Penn State women's gymnastics team travels to No. 9 Utah on Friday, March 12. The Nittany Lions will also take on No. 8 Oregon State and No. 21 Southern Utah. Meet action is set to begin at 7 p.m. MT. Live scoring is available via a link at GoPSUsports.com.
Scouting Utah
The No. 9 Utes scored a season-high 196.575 last week against Nebraska to secure the win. Utah has three all-arounders ranked in the top 20, including seniors Daria Bijak (13th, 39.335) and Jamie Deetscreek (19th, 39.215) and junior Kyndal Robarts (20th, 39.195). In seven wins this season, the Utes have won 33 of 35 event/all-around titles.
Scouting Southern Utah
The Nittany Lions and the No. 21 Thunderbirds will be meeting for the first time at Utah. SUU is coming off a 195.300-194.475 loss at Iowa on March 7. Elise Wheeler is the only team member to compete in the all-around this season averaging a 39.197. Wheeler leads the team in season average on three events (UB - 9.813, BB - 9.828 & FX - 9.831).
Scouting Oregon State
The No. 8 Beavers are coming off a 196.925-195.525 loss at LSU on March 5. Senior Mandi Rodriguez is ranked 11th nationally with an all-around RQS of 39.385. Oregon State is averaging 196.162 for the season with a RQS of 196.355.
What's Next?
The Nittany Lions are back in action on Saturday, March 20 in a double-dual with the Penn State men's gymnastics teams. The women host Nebraska at 7 p.m. in the Main Gym of Rec Hall. Prior to the match, the senior team members of both squads will be recognized.
Musser Sweeps Weekly Honors
Freshman Sharaya Musser was named the Big Ten Gymnast and Freshman of the Week on March 8. Musser was a catalyst in Penn State's victory on March 7 against No. 12 Michigan, Maryland and Bridgeport. Competing in the all-around for just the third time in 2010, Musser scored a personal-best 39.600 to take the crown. She won her second vault title with a career-high 9.975 and her third on beam with a personal-best 9.925. Musser tied her season-high on bars with a 9.875 to take fourth and turned in a sixth place finish on floor with a 9.825. Musser received the Ann Carr award for her performance.
Penn State in the Rankings
Below is where Penn State sits in the respective GymInfo rankings for the week of March 8. (www.troester.com)
National (PSU Rank, Leader)
Team: 195.390 (18th, Alabama - 197.155)
Vault: 49.210 (7th, Alabama - 49.410)
Bars: 48.960 (15th, UCLA - 49.285)
Beam: 48.630 (21st, Oklahoma - 49.290)
Floor: 48.865 (22nd, UCLA - 49.345)