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Musser Leads Nittany Lions in Tri-Meet at Michigan

Jan. 14, 2011

Final Stats

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Sophomore Sharaya Musser (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took second in the all-around to aid Penn State to a team score of 194. 450. Michigan won the meet with a team score of 194.900 and Illinois edged Penn State for second place with a 194.475.

"I'm really proud of the girls," said head coach Jeff Thompson. " We came within .425 of the No. 3 team in the nation. The girls know what they need to work on this week and we all look forward to continuing to improve."

The Nittany Lions posted team scores of 48.650 on vault, 48.900 on the uneven bars, 48.525 on beam and a 48.375 on floor. Musser was Penn State's sole competitor in the all-around. She finished second with a 39.275. Michigan's Kylee Botterman won the all-around with a 39.550.

Musser led the Nittany Lions on vault tying for fourth place with a 9.875. Sophomore Madison Merriam (Gaithersburg, Md.) tied for seventh with a 9.775 and freshman Kristin Blades (Gainesville, Va.), competing in her first collegiate meet, finished 10th with a 9.700. Botterman won vault scoring a 9.975.

Penn State put in a strong performance on bars with junior Natalie Ettl (Waukesha, Wis.) winning the event with a 9.900. Musser took third with a 9.825 and juniors Whitney Benckso (Pompton Plains, N.J.) and Alex Stine (Philipsburg, Pa.) tied for seventh place with a 9.750.

Musser was Penn State's top performer of beam earning a second place finished with a 9.825. Other top competitors on the event for Penn State include freshman Kassidy Stauder (Palmerton, Pa.) who placed seventh with a 9.725 and junior Daryl Konsevick (Rutherford, N.J.), who scored a 9.700 to tie for eighth. Botterman won the event for Michigan with a 9.875.

Bencsko led the Nittany Lions on floor scoring a 9.775, good enough for sixth place. Musser placed eighth with a 9.750, while both Stauder and Konsevick scored a 9.700 to tie for 10th place. Botterman scored a 9.875 on floor to win the event.

What's Next?
The Nittany Lions return to campus on Saturday, Jan. 22 to host New Hampshire at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. The meet is a double dual with the Penn State men's team who hosts Michigan.