2014 NCAA Womens Gymnastics ChampionshipsApr 18, 2014 by Elizabeth Stranahan
2014 NCAA Semifinal 1 Results
2014 NCAA Semifinal 1 Results
Just moments ago, the first round of competition wrapped up in the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex as the top NCAA women’s gymnastics programs fought to advance to the 2014 NCAA Super Six. Oklahoma secured their spot taking first place with a 197.5. Stealing second was Georgia tallying an impressive 197.3, while LSU earned the coveted last position advancing them to Saturday’s Finals Competition with a 197.1.
The first rotation started out strong for Oklahoma on the balance beam. While arguably the most challenging apparatus of the four, the Sooners proved up to the challenge posting a team score of 49. 35. Stellar performances from Taylor Spears (9.925) Chelsea Capps (9.9), aloowed the Sooners to drop anchor Rebecca Clark's score of a 9.7. Clark fought hard to recover a crooked front aerial to backhandspring swing down beam series. Georgia also came out strong in the first event with a 49.35 posted on the vault. Highligts from the squad came from a stuck 1 1/2 from Brandie Jay earning her a 1 1/2 and huge flaired out yurchenko full from Lindsey Cheek for a 9.9 posting. On the bars, Michigan posted a competitive 49.325. Joanna Sampson secures the top scoring spot for her team with a 9.9. And on the floor, Stanford incurred a bit of difficulty, their highest scores notching a 9.85 from Shona Morgan and Melissa Chuang. Stanford headed to the vault with an event score of 49.025
As Oklahoma and Georgia headed to a bye, LSU stepped into the National arena to start their bid for the National title. Despite an impressive 49.35 event score, LSU did not show their true potential. Jessica Sovano shone on the floor posting a 9.925 followed closely by teammate Ashleigh Gnat who earned a 9.9 for her great routine that included a beautiful piked full in. However, perhaps the most anticipated routine of the night, Lomincia Hall, fell a bit flat. While the dance was nothing less than spectacular, Hall bounded out of her last pass (a double back) and didn't quite put the exclamation mark ont he routine she was hoping for. Despite the small error, Hall still notched a 9.85 to aid in the Tiger's fight. Over on the bars, Illinois experience small set backs theirselves, having a fall early in their line up. However, the fighting Illini rallied back to earn a 48.725 on the event. The University of Michigan opened the door for opportunity after Lindsay Williams and Briley Cassanova suffered falls on handspring layout flight series. All American Joanna Sampson notched a 9.85 to lead the Wolverines, and Michigan walked away from beam with a 48.35. Standford moved over to the vault where Danielle and Nicolette McNair proved the highlights with matching 9.85s. Stanford earned a 49.025 on the vault.
In the third rotation, Oklahoma returned to the spotlight on the floor exercise. Oklahoma posted the highest event score of the night to this point with a great 49.575. Haley Scaman and Maileana Kanewa led the Sooners with matching 9.95s. But not a single athlete on the Oklahoma squad failed to impress as the lowest score the team counted was a 9.85. LSU took charge of the vault in the third rotation earning a 49.35. Huge height helped the Tigers land big scores. Top point earners for LSU came from Rheagan Courville and Ashleigh Gnat with a pair of 9.9s. Georgia nabbed a 49.3 on the uneven bars with Senior Lindsey Cheek leading the way with a 9.925. Illinois continued making progress on the balance beam again suffering a fall from their anchor Sunny Kato, but solid routines from the rest of the squad spared Illinois from having to count the fall. Illinois gained a 48.8 on the bars. Oklahoma and LSU post strong leads at the halway mark of the event.
Georgia highlights the fourth rotation as they prove they are true contenders for the NCAA Finals. After a less than perfect routine from Kiera Brown, senior Lindsey Cheek proved she was capable of handling the pressure tacking a 9.9. Mary Beth Box also rallied a 9.9 on the balance beam for the GymDogs. The Oklahoma Sooners continued to prove themselves capable on the vault with a 49.325. Haley Scaman led the charge with a 9.9 of her own. Michigan looked sharp on the floor, but it was All American Joanna Sampson that stole the show with a 9.95. Sampson continues to impress and will be a routine to watch for in the event finals. Stanford pulled a strong 49.3 on bars with top earnings going to Kristina Vaculik (9.925) and Shona Morgan (9.9).
Stanford finishes their day putting up a fight on the beam. Kristina Vaculick posts a 9.9 with a routine highlighted with a stuck roundoff double twist dismount. Stanford caps off their day with a 196.6 team score. Michigan also wraps their competition competing on the vault. While Sachi Sugiyama led the squad with a 9.9 and the team overall demonstrated great difficulty, a few too many steps on the landing holds them at a 49.3. Michigan ends the competition with a team score of 196.425. LSU demonstrated strong capability on the bars, but small mistakes added up quickly for the team. Rheagan Courville notched a 9.9 with a routine marked by lovely lines in the jeager release and a stuck full in dismount. However, LSU leaves the bars behind with a 49.225. The University of Illinois gains their highest score of the night with a 49.2 on the floor exercise. They will conclude their day on the vault.
In the final round of competition, the leaders proved their place. LSU ended on the balance beam where they showed small mistakes, but high difficulty routines. Rheagan Courville's routine takes center stage featuring a standing arabian, a leg up turn, and a front aerial to sissone to gainer dismount to boot. LSU finished with a 49.175 on the beam giving them a team for of a 197.1. Oklahoma shone on the bars with Taylor Spears earning a 9.9. However, much like LSU small mistakes and missed opportunities meant Oklahoma walked away with a 49.25 making their final score a 197.5. Georgia rallied on the floor exercise and proved themselves in this game pushing themselves into second place. High scores from Brandie Jay (9.925), Cat Hires (9.9), and Mary Beth Box (9.9) gave Georgia the edge over LSU. Illinois finished out their night on the vault with a 49.075. As was the theme of the night and likely this Championships, perfection wins and no team can afford to make mistakes, even the minor ones if they want to chase that team title.
With Oklahoma, Georgia, and LSU taking the top three spots, that means that despite strong routines throughout the competition Stanford (196.6), Michigan (196.425), and Illinois (195.8) will fall just short and end their run for the Championship title.
As Oklahoma and Georgia headed to a bye, LSU stepped into the National arena to start their bid for the National title. Despite an impressive 49.35 event score, LSU did not show their true potential. Jessica Sovano shone on the floor posting a 9.925 followed closely by teammate Ashleigh Gnat who earned a 9.9 for her great routine that included a beautiful piked full in. However, perhaps the most anticipated routine of the night, Lomincia Hall, fell a bit flat. While the dance was nothing less than spectacular, Hall bounded out of her last pass (a double back) and didn't quite put the exclamation mark ont he routine she was hoping for. Despite the small error, Hall still notched a 9.85 to aid in the Tiger's fight. Over on the bars, Illinois experience small set backs theirselves, having a fall early in their line up. However, the fighting Illini rallied back to earn a 48.725 on the event. The University of Michigan opened the door for opportunity after Lindsay Williams and Briley Cassanova suffered falls on handspring layout flight series. All American Joanna Sampson notched a 9.85 to lead the Wolverines, and Michigan walked away from beam with a 48.35. Standford moved over to the vault where Danielle and Nicolette McNair proved the highlights with matching 9.85s. Stanford earned a 49.025 on the vault.
In the third rotation, Oklahoma returned to the spotlight on the floor exercise. Oklahoma posted the highest event score of the night to this point with a great 49.575. Haley Scaman and Maileana Kanewa led the Sooners with matching 9.95s. But not a single athlete on the Oklahoma squad failed to impress as the lowest score the team counted was a 9.85. LSU took charge of the vault in the third rotation earning a 49.35. Huge height helped the Tigers land big scores. Top point earners for LSU came from Rheagan Courville and Ashleigh Gnat with a pair of 9.9s. Georgia nabbed a 49.3 on the uneven bars with Senior Lindsey Cheek leading the way with a 9.925. Illinois continued making progress on the balance beam again suffering a fall from their anchor Sunny Kato, but solid routines from the rest of the squad spared Illinois from having to count the fall. Illinois gained a 48.8 on the bars. Oklahoma and LSU post strong leads at the halway mark of the event.
Georgia highlights the fourth rotation as they prove they are true contenders for the NCAA Finals. After a less than perfect routine from Kiera Brown, senior Lindsey Cheek proved she was capable of handling the pressure tacking a 9.9. Mary Beth Box also rallied a 9.9 on the balance beam for the GymDogs. The Oklahoma Sooners continued to prove themselves capable on the vault with a 49.325. Haley Scaman led the charge with a 9.9 of her own. Michigan looked sharp on the floor, but it was All American Joanna Sampson that stole the show with a 9.95. Sampson continues to impress and will be a routine to watch for in the event finals. Stanford pulled a strong 49.3 on bars with top earnings going to Kristina Vaculik (9.925) and Shona Morgan (9.9).
Stanford finishes their day putting up a fight on the beam. Kristina Vaculick posts a 9.9 with a routine highlighted with a stuck roundoff double twist dismount. Stanford caps off their day with a 196.6 team score. Michigan also wraps their competition competing on the vault. While Sachi Sugiyama led the squad with a 9.9 and the team overall demonstrated great difficulty, a few too many steps on the landing holds them at a 49.3. Michigan ends the competition with a team score of 196.425. LSU demonstrated strong capability on the bars, but small mistakes added up quickly for the team. Rheagan Courville notched a 9.9 with a routine marked by lovely lines in the jeager release and a stuck full in dismount. However, LSU leaves the bars behind with a 49.225. The University of Illinois gains their highest score of the night with a 49.2 on the floor exercise. They will conclude their day on the vault.
In the final round of competition, the leaders proved their place. LSU ended on the balance beam where they showed small mistakes, but high difficulty routines. Rheagan Courville's routine takes center stage featuring a standing arabian, a leg up turn, and a front aerial to sissone to gainer dismount to boot. LSU finished with a 49.175 on the beam giving them a team for of a 197.1. Oklahoma shone on the bars with Taylor Spears earning a 9.9. However, much like LSU small mistakes and missed opportunities meant Oklahoma walked away with a 49.25 making their final score a 197.5. Georgia rallied on the floor exercise and proved themselves in this game pushing themselves into second place. High scores from Brandie Jay (9.925), Cat Hires (9.9), and Mary Beth Box (9.9) gave Georgia the edge over LSU. Illinois finished out their night on the vault with a 49.075. As was the theme of the night and likely this Championships, perfection wins and no team can afford to make mistakes, even the minor ones if they want to chase that team title.
With Oklahoma, Georgia, and LSU taking the top three spots, that means that despite strong routines throughout the competition Stanford (196.6), Michigan (196.425), and Illinois (195.8) will fall just short and end their run for the Championship title.
The first three players are set for Satuday’s Super Six, but session two promises just as thrilling a match-up. The second Semifinal will get underway at 7PM CST. Watch as reigning national champs Florida take on Alabama, Utah, UCLA, Penn State, and Nebraska as three more teams compete to round out the Super Six.
Full recaps and routines from the this evening’s Semifinal coming soon.
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