CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – In front of a season-high 1,779 fans, the Illini women's gymnastics team swept the meet in a close victory over the Michigan State Spartans, 195.100-194.575. Illinois continues to dominate the series with its 10th consecutive win. Sophomore Kylie Noonan clinched the victory for the Illini with a career-high 9.925 on floor.
The Orange and Blue dominated the individual standings, capturing all four events and the all-around title. Returning to the all-around this season, redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto recorded a 39.325 for her first all-around title since 2016. The Akron, Ohio native also earned her sixth beam title with a season-high 9.875. For the first time in her career, sophomore Kylie Noonan was a double event winner, earning the bars (9.875) and floor (9.925) titles. Sophomore Kasey Meeks and junior Karen Howell impressed on vault with career-highs of 9.900 a piece.
Earning a season-high vault total, the Illini recorded a 49.100. Otto was the first Illini of the rotation to break 9.800+ with a season-high 9.825. Howell and Meeks capped off the rotation with a pair of 9.900s. Illinois led Michigan State 49.100-48.700 going into the second rotation.
Adding bars to her repertoire, Noonan earned her first bars title with a career-high 9.875. Swinging with ease, Otto recorded a 9.825 for her unique combinations and skills. Always a strong leadoff for the Illini, Lindsay Dwyer notched a season-high 9.800 to place third.
With a fall on bars, the Spartans took a two-tenth lead going into the third rotation. The beam team was led by sixth year gymnast Otto, earning a season-high 9.875 for her second beam title of 2019. Freshman Shaylah Scott recorded another career-high with a 9.850.
Heading into the final rotation, the Spartans had almost a point lead over the Illini. Illinois hit a season-high on floor with a 49.175. Clinching the victory was anchor Noonan, recording a career-high 9.925 tying for first with Michigan State's Lea Mitchell. In her second time out, sophomore Tessa Phillips notched a career-high 9.850. Senior Haylee Roe entertained with a 9.825, while Otto recorded a season-high 9.800.
The Illini hit the road again to face Big Ten opponent Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Princess and Superhero Night is slated for a 6 p.m. CT start on Saturday, Feb. 16 and will stream live on BTN2go.com. A tape delay version will air on BTN, Sunday, February 17 at 9 a.m. CT.
In 2018, Illinois was an individual title away from a sweep, earning titles on three of the four events and an all-around title from Nicole Biondi. In a close contest, Illinois defeated the Hawkeyes at home, 195.325-195.150.
Illinois Notes
- The last time the Illini swept a meet was on February 17, 2017 against Michigan State.
- The Orange and Blue swept the meet, capturing all four events and the all-around title – Redshirt senior Mary Jane Otto captured the beam and all-around title, sophomore Kylie Noonan won bars and the floor, and sophomore Kasey Meeks and junior Karen Howell tied for the title on vault
- Otto returns to the all-around with a season-high 39.325, capturing her first all-around title since 2016.
- Howell and Meeks both recorded career-highs on vault, each with 9.900. Howell earned her first career-title on vault, while it was the sixth for Meeks.
- In her first outing on bars, sophomore Noonan earned a career-high 9.875 to capture her first title on the event.
- Junior Lindsay Dwyer hit the 9.800 mark for the first-time this season to leadoff Illinois on bars.
- Otto earned her sixth beam title with a season-high 9.875, while freshman Shaylah Scott followed with a career-high 9.850.
- Noonan clinched the title for the Illini with a career-high 9.925, marking her fourth-floor title.
- In her second outing for the Illini, sophomore Tessa Phillips notched a career-high 9.850 on floor.
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