EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (7-4, 1-2 Big Ten) ran into a hot Michigan State squad (4-1, 3-0 Big Ten) in Jenison Field House on Saturday night and fell 197.450-195.475 to the Spartans.
"Unfortunately, the scores didn't fall our way tonight, and we made too many mistakes to keep up with a very strong Michigan State team," said head coach Sarah Brown. "We had some really strong performances tonight—Ava had a great night, our vault team was excellent and we finished the meet strong—but we know we have more work ahead of us if we are going to keep moving up in the rankings. We are excited to be headed back to Rec Hall for two home meets in a row on February 10th and 17th."
Ava Piedrahita, once again, shined in the bright lights of Big Ten road competition. The freshman set a new career high in the all-around with a 39.350 across all four events this evening. Piedrahita also tied for the vault win with a career-best 9.925 on the apparatus. Her previous all-around career high of 39.225 was set on the road against a Big Ten opponent as well, when the Nittany Lions traveled to Minnesota earlier this season, highlighting the freshman's ability to come through in big moments.
The Nittany Lions reached a total of three career-highs along with two additional season-best marks in the meet against the 13th-ranked Spartans. Michigan State's 197.450 was their best score of the season.
ROTATION RECAP
The Nittany Lions started the night on bars where senior Cassidy Rushlow carried over her success from Monday night's meet and scored a 9.85 on the apparatus to lead the squad. The Nittany Lions received a 9.8 from Piedrahita and a career-best 9.775 from junior Maggie Mace to round out the top three scorers.
Piedrahita scored a career-best 9.925 and came away tied for the event victory on the vault. Sophomore Jessica Johanson posted a season-best 9.85 on the apparatus while sophomore Isabella Salcedo scored a 9.8. Penn State's standout vault effort was bolstered by 9.775s by both Elina Vihrova and Amani Herring as the Nittany Lions posted a season-high 49.125 in the event. The score from Vihrova tied her season-high on the apparatus.
On the floor, The Nittany Lions received a pair of 9.825s from Piedrahita and Salcedo but a few mistakes limited the rest of the group on the apparatus. Salcedo has now recorded a season-high 9.825 in three meets this season.
Closing the night out on beam, Piedrahita (9.8) and junior Maddie Johnston (9.825) both turned in solid routines for the Nittany Lions in the event.
Piedrahita was the only Nittany Lion to compete in all four events this evening, and she did so with a career-best 39.350 effort. Piedrahita scored 9.800-or-more on each apparatus in one meet for the first time this season en-route to her career night.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Nittany Lions return home to Happy Valley for a two-meet homestand. The first will be against Nebraska on Feb. 10, followed by a tilt against Ohio State on Feb. 17. Both meets will begin at 6 p.m. in Rec Hall.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
