UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women's gymnastics team (7-4, 1-2 Big Ten) will host Nebraska (3-4, 0-3 Big Ten) on Friday night at 6 p.m. in Rec Hall.
Penn State has dominated at home in 2023, to the tune of a 4-0 record and a 196.275 average score in Rec Hall as the Nittany Lions head into their third home meet of the season.
Freshman Ava Piedrahita enters competition looking to build on her excellent season with another solid performance at home. Piedrahita has shined on the road against nationally-ranked Big Ten opponents, setting all-around career highs in consecutive road meets against No. 16 Minnesota and No. 13 Michigan State.
Senior Cassidy Rushlow enters competition following two strong performances last week. Her 9.95 on bars against Rutgers on Monday, Jan. 30, tied the fourth-highest score on the apparatus in program historyand she followed that up with a 9.85 at Michigan State last Friday. Rushlow has posted a 9.800-or-above on bars in every meet this season and is primed to keep that streak alive at home on Friday evening.
The Nittany Lions own a 5-29 all-time record against the Cornhuskers and will compete to turn around recent misfortune and pick up their first regular season win against Nebraska since 2006.
GALENTINE'S NIGHT
Penn State women's gymnastics invites you to celebrate Galentine's Night at Rec Hall with us! All kids 12-and-under are free admission and the first 100 youngsters through the gates will receive a signed valentine from our very own Gabbie Gallentine! Throughout the evening, there will be poster-making and valentine-making stations for the kids to enjoy. And if you stick around following the meet, the team will be available to sign autographs.
TUNE IN LIVE
Live Results | Live Stream
LAST TIME OUT
The Nittany Lions set their season-best score on vault at Michigan State but were otherwise kept below their season averages on each apparatus. Penn State held firm at No. 29 in the country following its outing in East Lansing, and its bars and beam events both rank in the top 30 in the country.
VAULT – No. 31
Piedrahita scored a career-best 9.925 and came away tied for the event victory on the vault at Michigan State. 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.
BARS – No. 23
The Nittany Lions' 23rd-ranked bars squad is led by anchor Cassidy Rushlow. Rushlow carried over her success from Monday night's meet at Rutgers and scored a 9.85 on the apparatus to lead the group. 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.
BALANCE BEAM – No. 28
For Penn State's beam group, Piedrahita (9.8) and junior Maddie Johnston (9.825) both turned in solid routines for the Nittany Lions in the event.
FLOOR – No. 40
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.
All-Around
In the all-around, Piedrahita and Johnston both hit career-best marks. Piedrahita posted a 39.225 across all four events while Johnston racked up 39.175 points. Piedrahita earned her second all-around win this season as a Nittany Lion has now been crowned all-around winner in all but one meet in 2023.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
The Nittany Lions will play host to Ohio State on Friday, Feb. 17 in a dual meet at Rec Hall beginning at 6 p.m.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).
