Final Results 

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The University of Illinois women's gymnastics team led by first-year head coach, Nadalie Walsh, earned first place in a quad meet with Rutgers, Southern Connecticut State and Yale on Saturday afternoon. The Illini recorded a 195.100 team score, followed by second-place Yale (191.550), Rutgers (191.525) and Southern Connecticut State (187.650).

Four Illini earned individual event titles at the quad meet. Sophomore Karen Howell won event titles on floor (9.800) and bars (9.875). The titles are the second and third of Howell's career. Sophomore Rae Balthazor also earned a share of the bars title and a share of the beam title with a career-best 9.875, along with senior Bridget Hodan. Freshman Kasey Meeks secured the vault title with a 9.825.  

The Orange and Blue led from the first rotation and would hold a three-point advantage throughout the quad meet. Illinois's best rotation came on bars, where the squad posted a 49.175 team score.

Up next, the Illini return to Huff Hall for their 2018 home opener against Michigan on Friday night. The meet begins at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed live on BTNPlus. 

Illini Notes

• Head coach Nadalie Walsh won her first meet in the Orange and Blue.
• Illinois's 195.100 team score is the highest season-opening score by the Illini since 2015.
• Illinois scored a 49.075 on beam. The Orange and Blue have hit above a 49.000 beam score in 14-straight meets.
• Sophomore Lindsay Dwyer hit a career-high 9.800 on bars.
• Howell recorded a career-high 9.850 on beam and matched her career-high mark of 9.875 on bars.
• Sophomore Rae Balthazor made her beam debut and led the Illini with a 9.875.
• Junior Rachael Donovan scored a career-high 9.825 on bars.
• Meeks made her Illini debut on vault to lead the Orange and Blue with a mark of 9.825 and win the first individual event title of her career.
• Freshmen Nicole Biondi , Kasey Meeks and Kylie Noonan made their Illini debuts.

Illini Quotes

"I am really proud of the entire team and the energy they competed with today. The team chemistry was amazing. We started the meet very strong on bars and beam, had a few mistakes on floor and then finished strong on vault. We are very excited for the next meet. The girls are not satisfied because they want more, however, they are very proud of themselves." – head coach Nadalie Walsh

"We started out on bars and came out with a lot of energy after warmups. Lindsay (Dwyer) hit her routine and the team just exploded with energy and we knew it would be a great meet." – Sophomore Karen Howell

"I felt like I finished every routine today and I was so happy because I felt like I gave the team what they needed. That's a good feeling to have." – Sophomore Karen Howell

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