Jan. 8, 2011
Results
LEXINGTON, Ky. - At Saturday night's season-opening meet, the No. 17 Illinois women's gymnastics team took second at Memorial Coliseum with a score of 193.650, just behind host No. 24 Kentucky (194.350) and ahead of Northern Illinois (189.075). Senior Allison Buckley and junior Kelsey Joannides led the way for the Illini, as they tied for the individual all-around crown after registering combined scores of 39.050 from the four events.
"Tonight's meet was a good learning experience and starting point for our team," interim head coach Kim Landrus said. "We did some great things but also had some mistakes on a few events. We will go back to the gym and work on cleaning up those routines, and if everyone learns from their mistakes, we have so much potential."
The Illini notched the meet's best balance beam score with a 48.650 and turned in a mark of 48.500 on both vault and floor, but were forced to count a fall on bars, where they posted a 48.000. Joannides won the beam crown with a score of 9.850 while sophomore Jaclyn Kantecki tied for first place on bars with a 9.825, giving her the second event title of her career.
"Kelsey had a phenomenal preseason, and it showed tonight," Landrus said. "She came out and did the gymnastics she knows how to do, which led to a great meet. Jaclyn performed an excellent bar routine and really helped us bounce back on the event after we had a fall before her."
The Orange and Blue swept the top three spots on beam, led by Joannides' score of 9.850 in first place. Fernandez was the runner-up at 9.825 followed by Buckley in third with a score of 9.750. Senior Samantha Perino (9.625) and sophomore Alina Weinstein (9.600) also counted scores for Illinois.
"We have a very solid beam team," Landrus said. "We started off a little jittery on the event but our veterans helped us finish strong. They are such natural beam workers and gave great presentations, which they were rewarded for by the judges."
On vault, Illinois posted five of the top-eight scores, with Buckley pacing the effort and tying for second with a 9.775. Joannides was fifth at 9.725 followed closely by senior Melissa Fernandez and sophomore Elise Gill, who made her debut in the Illini lineup, with marks of 9.675. Kantecki rounded out the scoring with a 9.650.
Joannides was fourth on floor with a 9.825 and was followed in the standings by three straight Illini. Buckley scored a 9.800, Perino checked in with a 9.775 and Fernandez was next at 9.750. Freshman Amber See made her collegiate debut and rounded out the scoring with a 9.350.
Illinois began the night on bars, where Kantecki had a solid showing to tie for the title. Buckley turned in a 9.725 and placed fifth while Joannides (9.650), Weinstein (9.600) and Fernandez (9.200) also counted scores on the event. Freshman Sarah Fiedler made her collegiate debut in the lineup as well.
Up Next: Illinois travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a Big Ten showdown with the Michigan Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions on Friday, Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
