Gymnastics Set For Chicago Style Invitational
2/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 4, 2009
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Spartan gymnastics team travels to Chicago, Ill. for the Chicago Style Invitational at Navy Pier on Friday, Feb 6 at 7 p.m. ET. MSU will face No. 14 Illinois, No. 24 Boise State and Illinois-Chicago in a quad meet. Fans can follow along with .
MSU finished third in a quad meet at Ohio State last weekend. The Spartans totaled 194.500, their best score of the season, and sophomore Kelsey Morley (Elkhart, Ind.) highlighted the performance, participating in the all-around for the first time in her career. She scored a 9.800 on balance beam, her highest mark so far this season to help the Spartans earn a season-high 48.650 on the apparatus. Morley finished second overall on the event for the seventh time in her career.
Junior Emily Lopatofsky (Waymart, Pa.) recorded a 9.825 on floor exercise, a season high, to place second overall on the event, while classmate Rochelle Robinson (Chesapeake, Va.) tallied a 9.850 on the vault, finishing third overall and senior Katlyn Roggensack (Wheaton, Ill.) recorded a 9.825 for the third-straight week, her career high. Robinson was also the top Spartan finisher on the uneven bars with a 9.850. She placed third overall, marking the first time this season she placed in the event, and leading MSU to a season-high 48.800 on uneven bars.
Illinois and MSU will meet for the third time this season, and in back-to-back meets after facing off last weekend at Ohio State. The Illini tallied a 194.575 in a quad meet with MSU, Ohio State and Missouri. Sophomore Melissa Fernandez took home the balance beam title with a 9.825, tying her career high, and junior Nicole Cowart took second in the all-around with a 39.175. The Spartans hold a 52-24 all-time advantage over the Illini.
UIC is coming off a narrow loss to Western Michigan, 191.875-191.575. The Flames posted a season-best score on uneven bars and senior Zandre Labuschagne led the way with a 9.800. Freshman Andrea Skala took the title on floor exercise (9.775) and vault (9.750), while senior Annie Kachman claimed the all-around title. The Flames and Spartans last met in 2007 at MSU's first annual Flip for a Cure meet. The Spartans hold a 19-2 advantage all-time against the Flames.
Boise State recorded a 194.350-193.600 win over Utah State last Friday, and 11 career-best scores were tallied. Junior Taylor Jacob took the uneven bars title, recording a 9.900 and sophomore Sarah Smith placed first overall on floor exercise. Freshman Lindsay Kazandjian set a career-high on vault with a 9.725 and finished second in the all-around. The Spartans hold a 7-0 all-time record against the Broncos. The teams last meet in 2004, with MSU recording back-to-back wins.
Players Mentioned
