Results | Printable Results | Horth post meet interview | Landrus post meet interview | Photo Gallery

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 9 Fighting Illini women's gymnastics team shined in their 2015 Huff Hall debut defeating Rutgers 196.175-192.775 Saturday afternoon. The Illini swept the Scarlet Knights, taking first in every event. Senior Sunny Kato excelled in her signature events, claiming the bars (9.925) and beam (9.900) titles. Junior Giana O'Connor also claimed two event titles, posting a 9.875 in vault and floor.

"Warm-ups was a mixed bag today with some really good turns and some that were very uncharacteristic," head coach Kim Landrus said. "We huddled up afterwards and we talked as a group about making sure that we relied on what we have done over and over every day in practice. After march in, the girls definitely shifted to their normal turns. They touched well, and went out and competed with confidence. I was happy with the mental toughness they displayed."

In just her second time competing in all-around, sophomore Mary Jane Horth garnered a personal best 39.275 and claimed her first collegiate title. Sophomore Erin Buchanan also posted a personal best 39.100 to take second, while O'Connor finished with a 38.625, which was good for third place.

"Mary Jane has worked so hard this season to compete in the all-around," Landrus said. "With her upgraded bar routine and the addition of floor, she is truly one to watch. She has the drive and `strive for perfection' attitude that will make her that much better every time out and that showed today."

The Illini started the meet on vault and jumped ahead of the Scarlet Knights after the first rotation, 49.000-47.925. O'Connor led the Illini with a personal best 9.875, while Horth followed with a 9.850 - tying her career high - to take the top two spots in the event. Sophomore Sarah Lyons also stood out, as she took fourth (9.800) in her Illini vault debut. Illinois also counted scores from Buchanan (9.775) and junior Heather Foley (9.700).

The Illini then turned in a 49.250 on bars, the sixth best team score in Illini history. Sunny Kato's 9.925 tied her personal best, which ranks sixth on the all-time list. Mary Jane Horth landed her new bar routine and took second with 9.900, which tied her personal best. The Illini posted the top four scores in the event, as Lyons tied her personal best with a 9.850 and O'Connor (9.825) followed. Illinois also counted senior Jordan Naleway's 9.750.

On beam, in the third rotation, Illinois totaled a 48.875. Kato led with a 9.900, while Buchanan finished fourth with a 9.800. Heather Foley posted a personal best 9.775. Illinois also counted scores from Horth (9.725) and Naleway (9.675).

"It was great to see our beam team rebound after our first competitor faltered," Landrus said. "No one let that get in the way of their performance and the last five delivered. That set the tone for floor and continued the momentum that we had gained on vault and bars."

The Illini sealed the victory on floor where they posted a 49.050. Illinois took the top three spots as O'Connor led with a 9.875 and Buchanan (9.825) and Horth (9.800) followed. Horth's 9.800 was a career high. Naleway (9.775) and Foley (9.775) rounded out the Illini scores in the event.

Up next, the Orange and Blue are back on the road to take on Michigan on Jan. 25 a 3 pm.