North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Iowa
#18 Wolfpack Tops #23 Iowa on Final Rotation
2/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 6, 2011
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
- Vault: Barr (9.85), Ham (9.85)
- Bars: Vontz (9.85)
- Beam: Panza (9.85)
- Floor: Panza (9.85)
RALEIGH, N.C. --- 18th-ranked NC State gymnastics made up a .625 deficit over the final rotation to score a comeback win over 23rd-ranked Iowa 194.850-194.375 Sunday afternoon in Reynolds Coliseum.
“I’m very proud of the kids as we had our fourth no-fall competition of the season,” said NC State head coach Mark Stevenson, “especially coming off of a meet on Friday with only one day of rest in between. We competed against a very good Iowa team that should vie for the big ten championship, and came away with a win.”
The highlight of the afternoon for the Pack (3-4) was a season-high vault rotation of 49.000 sparked by 9.85s and first place finishes from junior Brooke Barr and freshman Diahanna Ham.
Brittany Vontz contributed a 9.825, Stephanie Ouellette landed a 9.75, and Hannah Fallanca added a 9.725 to round out the scoring.
The 49.000 marks the Pack’s best vault of the season, and also ties the team’s best score in any single event, set in the season-opener against Oklahoma on the floor exercise.
Jess Panza paced the Wolfpack on beam and floor for the second time this weekend, posting 9.85s in each event for a first-place floor exercise and a second-place beam routine.
Panza’s floor routine helped NC State post a 48.850 to close a .625 gap on Iowa for the win. Barr posted the team’s second-best score on beam, a 9.825, to bring the team total to 48.575.
Brittany Vontz equaled her season’s-best with a 9.85 on the bars, garnering a second place finish and contributing to the Wolfpack’s 48.425. Vontz’s previous 9.85 in the event came against Oklahoma.
The Pack’s win snaps a skid of two meets without a first place finish, after a third place in Gainesville and a second place Friday against Iowa State and George Washington.
“I was very pleased in the difference in both presentation and performance from Friday to today,” said Stevenson. “The team picked themselves up and competed at a different level.”
NC State returns to action next Saturday, February 12 for a “Pink Meet” against Arizona and William & Mary, beginning at 7 p.m.
