The 2015 NCAA Championships have begun and after a thrilling first round of semifinals, Florida, Utah, and Stanford have advanced to the Super Six competition. Florida and Utah both scored 197.475s and Stanford scored a 197.175. Michigan came in fourth, just missing out on a spot in the Super Six, scoring a 197.025. Georgia finished fifth with a 196.6 and UCLA finished sixth with a 196.4. 

The rankings heading into NCAAs were No. 2 Florida, No. 5 UCLA, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Utah, No. 10 Georgia, No. 11 Stanford.

 

In the first rotation, Michigan took the lead after earning a 49.225 on bars. Georgia started big on vault with a 49.1 lead by Brandie Jay’s 9.925 for a stuck Yurchenko 1 1/2. Utah was faced with an early challenge after second up Georgia Dabritz fell to score a 9.325. The team rallied well and nailed the rest of their routines to score a 49.175. UCLA had some trouble on floor with shaky landings. Sam Peszek was solid to lead the team with a 9.9. 

 

In the second rotation, we got our first look at Florida and Stanford. Stanford impressed earning a huge 49.575 on bars lead by a 9.95 from Elizabeth Price and a pair of 9.925s from Ivana Hong and Sami Sapiro. Florida was solid on floor for a 49.375. Bridget Sloan had a small stumble on her second pass and only scored a 9.675. Kytra Hunter followed and rocked her routine to score a 9.95 and bring the team back on track. Michigan continued their momentum on beam and earned a 49.25. UCLA was solid on vault but nothing exceptional. They had a few low landings and hops and earned a 49.0.

Photo by Christy Ann Linder

Florida continued their momentum on vault in the third rotation. They posted a 49.375 as a team lead by Sloan’s stuck Yurchenko full that earned a 9.925. Georgia moved to bars where they had a fall but were able to drop the score and they finished with a respectable 49.35. Brittany Rogers anchored Georgia’s bar rotation with a 9.95. Stanford moved on to beam where they earned a big 49.3 lead by Hong’s 9.9. Utah was on floor where they showed it off for a 49.35. 

At the halfway point, Stanford had the lead with a 98.875. They had completed bars and beam, the typically lower scoring events but ones that Stanford is known to be particularly strong on. Florida was in second with two solid events behind them and a 98.75 and Utah was third with a 98.525. Michigan and Georgia were close behind with a 98.475 and 98.45 respectively. UCLA was last with a 97.95.

 

Utah was on vault in the fourth rotation where they had a great lineup with big air time on every vault to earn a 49.45. Kari Lee scored a 9.95 for a huge Yurchenko full. UCLA was on bars where they fought hard and earned a 49.25 lead by Peszek and Peng-Peng Lee who each scored a 9.9. Georgia was on beam where they suffered a fall from third up Rogers. The final three competitors hit their routine but they still only totaled a 48.9. Michigan was a floor where they impressed for a 49.375 lead by Talia Chiarelli’s 9.925.

 

In the fifth rotation, Michigan finished out their competition on vault where they scored a 49.175. Florida was on bars where they were on point and scored a 49.45. UCLA finished their meet on beam with a solid 49.2 but it wasn’t enough to make up for their first two events and they finished with a 196.4. Stanford moved to floor where they had an uncharacteristic fall from Kristina Vaculik but the rest of the team pulled together well to hit the rest of the lineup. Peszek totaled a 39.6 all-around to put her in first all-around before the final rotation.

 

It came down to the final rotation and Stanford finished on vault. There first half of the lineup was slow but they picked it up towards the end and Price earned a huge 9.95. They finished with a 197.175, enough to pass Michigan by a small margin. Utah finished on bars where they were stellar, capped off by a perfect 10 from Dabrtiz. They finished with a 197.475 to put them in first at the time. Florida was on beam where Alex McMurtry and Hunter sealed the deal with a pair of 9.9s to finish the rotation. Florida scored a 197.475 to tie with Utah in the top spot. Hunter also tied with Peszek in the all-around with a 39.6.

 

The second semifinal round begins at 7pm CT. 

 

Scores below:


Individual results from session 1:









 

Related:
2015 NCAAs Live Updates