2014 NCAA Womens Gymnastics Championships

Nebraska Upsets to Join Florida and Alabama in the Super Six

Nebraska Upsets to Join Florida and Alabama in the Super Six

Apr 18, 2014 by Elizabeth Stranahan
Nebraska Upsets to Join Florida and Alabama in the Super Six


Round two of the Championship competition just concluded at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. After a heated day of competition, Florida and Alabama walk away in a dead tie with a team score or 197.65! After the tie breaker, Florida comes out in the top spot. And in a stunning turn of events, Nebraska snags the third spot with a 197.1 overtaking Utah in the last rotation for both teams.  Florida, Alabama, and Nebraska will join Oklahoma, Georgia, and LSU to round out the Super Six.

After a hard fought second semifinal, Utah, UCLA, and Penn State will end their campaign for the National Title and their competition in the Birmingham arena tonight.

An action packed meet, the Florida Gators started their night off on the vault. Bridget Sloan looked set to make a strong run at reclaiming her all around campaign leading the Gators with a 9.925. On the bars, Utah sufferred uncharacteristic mistakes early in their line up, but Georgia "no grips" Dabritz helped keep the team on track with a 9.9. On the beam, UCLA put up a fight. While plagued with wobbles, headliners Danusia Francis and Ellette Craddock each brought in 9.875s. Over to the floor, Nebraska's Emily Wong set the bar high with a 9.95 on the floor exercise. Her whip to triple twist with immaculate form makes her a strong contender for the floor event final.

In the second rotation, UCLA and Florida head to byes with Alabama and Penn State coming out to join in the hunt for the National Title. Alabama racks up huge scores on the bars sticking nearly every dismount. Bama finishes with a  49.375 and top scores going to Katie Bailey and Sarah DeMeo (9.9). Nebraska pulls a 49.2 on the vault while Penn State starts their competition on the floor with a 49.175. On the beam, Utah fights off wobbles and ends with a 48.975 as they move to a bye for the third event.

In the third rotation, Florida returned to the arena making a statement on the bars. Pulling in a 49.55, Florida seemed to not be able to misstep with no routine scoring lower than a 9.85. Alabama opened some doors on the beam, but an especially strong routine from Kim Jacob (9.925) helped the squad pull a 49.35. On the floor, UCLA Sydney Sawa and Sam Peszek each pull 9.9s to give the team a 49.4 on the event. Penn State earns a 48.925 on the vault.

Entering the fourth rotation Florida and Alabama topped the ranks, but on the beam, Bridget Sloan fell on a front aerial beckoning opportunity. Kytra Hunter proves essential to helping keep the Gators alive, and Florida earns a 49.3. Utah enters the competition ranked first on floor and come away with a nice 49.425 total. On the vault, Emily Wong leads the charge with a 9.95 and the Huskers walk away with a 49.35. UCLA struggled on the vault, but Olivia Courtney provided a 9.95 and UCLA earns a 49.275 for the event.

At the conclusion of the fifth rotation, Utah posts a team score of grabbed a 49.3 on vault, but it was sleeper team Nebraska that stole the show. After having the beam rotation of their lives, Nebraska snuck in to steal away the third spot from Utah with a 197.1 to a 197.025. Alabama continued to dominate on the floor with an event score of 49.575, and Penn State earns a 48.65 on the bars.

Moving to the last rotation, it was down to Florida and Alabama to take the lead and start the momentum for tomorrow’s finals. With both teams putting up monstrous routines it was truly down to the wire. Diandra Milliner of Alabama unfortunately missed her yurchenko 1 1/2 giving Florida some wiggle room, but Florida gave away tenths with a lot of low landings. In the end, Florida and Alabama tie with a 197.65! After the tie breaker, Florida is awarded the official first slot, but it’s shaping up to be anyone’s game this Championships.

UCLA and Penn State finish up their events with a 197.00 and 194.825 respectively. They will both end their road to Nationals tonight.

So there you have it, your Super Six, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, Florida, Alabama, and Nebraska will all return tomorrow night to face off and settle who deserves the title of 2014 NCAA National Champions. Penn State both suffered mistakes on their events. Penn State finished on the beam with a to have a team total of 19

Watch FULL routines from tonight's competition.

Tomorrow's Super Six final will adhere to the following rotation schedule:


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