Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan Gymnastics Plays Host to New Hampshire
2/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 16, 2006
Notes vs. UNH
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State gymnastics team returns home this weekend to face non-conference opponent University of New Hampshire. Both teams come into the competition following successful efforts last weekend. The Spartans (8-4-0) are coming off a 191.025 win over Ball State and Bowling Green, while UNH defeated Minnesota, Temple and Yale at the Fox Run Invitational. Competition is set to begin at Jenison Field House on Feb. 18 at 8 p.m.
LAST WEEK IN REVIEW... The Spartan gymnastics squad continued non-conference action Friday night competing at the Cardinal Classic hosted by Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. With a 191.025, and first place finishes in all four events, Michigan State captured first place, while host BSU (187.875) and Bowling Green (183.625) finished second and third respectively. The win improves State's record to 8-4-0 in 2006.
COMING HOME Following a month on the road, Green and White gymnastics returns home this weekend to face EAGL opponent New Hampshire. The match-up will take place at Jenison Field House on Saturday February 18 at 8 p.m.
UP NEXT: UNH WILDCATS The University of New Hampshire gymnastics team comes into this weekend's competition after winning its quad meet against Minnesota, Temple and Yale. The Wildcats posted their second-highest team score of the year, finishing out the night with a 194.375. UNH is currently 6-1-0 for the season, with its only loss coming in its first meet of the year against Rutgers. Prior to Saturday's competition the Blue and White will face the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Friday night.
THE OLD VS. THE NEW UNH returns 11 gymnasts from its 2005 squad, welcoming only 4 newcomers for the season. In comparison, the Spartans have five returning athletes and six newcomers.
WINNING STREAK In the all-time series against UNH, the Spartans hold a 17-6-1 advantage over the Wildcats. The Green and White have defeated New Hampshire the past four meetings, most recently at the Fox Run Invitational in 2005.
FIRST IN FOUR The Spartans captured individual titles in each event competing at the Ball State Classic last weekend, with Chayla Hill winning the vault with a 9.775; Victoria Iakounina winning on bars with a 9.825, and all-around with a 38.425; and Briana Dicus winning on the beam with a 9.775, and floor exercise with a 9.725. In addition the Green and White had seven other top three finishes for the night.
LEADING THE WAY Competing in the all-around for the first time this season in Muncie, junior Victoria Iakounina set a career best score of 38.425, which was good enough to capture the all-around title for the evening. She set herself up for the win with a first place finish on the bars (9.825), a second place finish on the vault (9.750), and a tie for second on floor exercise (9.700). Her score on floor is also a career-best for Iakounina.
DICUS DOES IT AGAIN Freshman Briana Dicus set season-bests on the beam (9.775) and floor exercise (9.725) en route to first place finishes on those events vs. Ball State and Bowling Green last weekend. Her floor exercise score is an improvement from the season-best 9.650 that she earned just last week.
LOOKING AHEAD The Spartans kick-off two weeks of home meets beginning this weekend against UNH, followed up by Alaska-Anchorage on Feb. 24. The Green and White will then hit the road to face four opponents in 14 days before returning home to host the Big Ten Tournament on March 25.
