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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 17-ranked Penn State women’s gymnastics is looking to continue its momentum after a strong showing against Yale as the program heads into its first road and conference meet of the 2026 season against the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign on Friday, January 16 at 8 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
In the 2026 season opener against Yale, Penn State tallied 196.225 for the program’s highest ever mark in a home opener as the team was powered by scores at 49.000 or above in vault, uneven bars and on the floor.
Freshman Ava Cash led the way during her collegiate debut. The freshman posted a stellar 9.850 on vault and bars, winning the event title for both rotations. Elizabeth Leary posted similar results on bars, a 9.850, for a share of the event title with the freshman. Ellie Monahan and Dani Latronica, the meet’s Ann Carr Award winner, tied for the event title on beam after a 9.825 performance. Kalea McElligott stunned on floor with a meet-high 9.900, tying her career-high and tied for the 17th-best mark nationally and fourth best in the Big Ten. Alyssa Kramer followed closely behind with a 9.875 on the floor, good for the sixth-highest score in the Big Ten.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
After the best score in a home opener in program history, the Nittany Lions were ranked no. 17 nationally in the all-around, tied for the fourth-highest ranking by a Big Ten school alongside rival Michigan State. Cash’s vault performance was 35th-highest score in the country with it also performing as the second-best in the Big Ten. McElligott’s floor was the no. 17-ranked routine in the nation, fourth highest in the Big Ten, while Kramer’s floor exercise was scored as the sixth-highest in the Big Ten, the 34th-ranked in Division I.
SERIES HISTORY
Penn State leads the all-time series against Illinois, 13-11. In last year’s meet in Rec Hall, the Nittany Lions downed the Fighting Illini, 196.325-195.900, while falling in their session against each other in the Big Ten Championships, 196.050-196.500.
In the first meeting between the two programs last year, Penn State dominated on the floor, posting a 49.225 thanks to McElligott and Kramer both securing a 9.900 rating. The Nittany Lions also secured a huge advantage on the beam, beating out the Fighting Illini, 49.175-48.850, in the rotation. In the second meet between the two, Penn State tied Illinois on bars but fell short in the other three rotations.
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateWomensGymnastics) and X/Instagram (@pennstatewgym).