Huskers Set School Record in Masters Classic Win

Lincoln -- The Nebraska women's gymnastics team set a new school and Masters Classic record in a convincing win over No. 21 Denver and No. 23 North Carolina State in front of a Pershing Auditorium crowd of 1.363 Saturday afternoon.

For the third time this season and the first time at home, the Huskers topped the 197 mark and captured their seventh consecutive Masters Classic title. Nebraska's score of 197.375 demolished the previous school record of 197.050 and is the ninth-highest score in the nation this season. Denver finished second with a score of 193.700, followed North Carolina State (192.825).

"I feel really, really good about how things went today," Head Coach Dan Kendig said. "I was a little nervous going in. Having had last weekend off, it seemed as if they let down a little bit in practice this week, but the intensity was there today."

Nebraska got off to a strong start on vault, behind freshman Alecia Ingram's fifth vault title of the season. Ingram tied the Masters Classic record with a 9.90 and helped the Huskers to a season-high vault score of 49.225.

The Huskers carried their momentum into the second rotation where freshman Tami Harris unleashed a near-perfect routine on the uneven bars. Harris captured the third bars title of her career and set a new Masters Classic record with a 9.975, the highest score recorded by a Husker this season. Harris not only entered her name in the Masters Classic record books, but she also earned a place in Nebraska gymnastics history, tying Heather Brink for the school record.

Nebraska has struggled at times on beam this season, but it all came together Saturday, as the Huskers swept the event and claimed the top six places. Ingram captured her third vault title with a 9.90, followed by sophomore A.J. Lamb, who scored a 9.875, and Harris, who finished with a 9.850. The Huskers also had three athletes tie for fourth with a 9.825.

Nebraska carried its consistency into the final rotation, where three Huskers scored a 9.925, tying the Masters Classic record on floor. Lamb, competing on floor for the first time this season, got the Huskers of to a solid start tying her career high in the event. Sophomore Bree Dority O'Callaghan, who had not competed on floor since 1999, followed with a career-high of her own, while sophomore Jess Wertz also recorded the highest floor score of her career.

Noticeably absent from the floor lineup was Ingram, who was replaced by Harris at the last minute. Ingram had been aggravated by a sore Achilles tendon and instead of risking injury, Kendig decided to alter his lineup.

"I got concerned and I pulled Alecia from floor," Kendig said. "Her Achilles has been a little sore and I wasn't willing to risk it. She's too valuable."

The switch also gave Harris a chance at the all-around title. Entering the final rotation, Harris led North Carolina State's Kelli Brown, 29.675-29.475. However Harris, who had only the three-minute touch warm-up to prepare for floor, missed her landing on a tumbling pass, giving Brown the opening she needed. Brown won the all-around with a 39.35, while Harris settled for second (38.950).

The Huskers continue their homestand when they return to the Devaney Center to face Florida March 4 at 2 p.m.

Vault			Bars
1. Alecia Ingram, Nebraska	9.900		1. Tami Harris, Nebraska	9.975
2. Gina Bruce, Nebraska	9.875		2. Melanie Schiff, Denver	9.925
2. Adina Stock, NC State	9.875		3. Julie Houk, Nebraska	9.900
4. Tami Harris, Nebraska	9.850		3. Jess Wertz, Nebraska	9.900
5. Ashely Shible, Denver	9.825		7. Bree Dority O'Callaghan, (NU)	9.850
6. Jen French, Nebraska	9.800		9. Libby Landgraf, Nebraska	9.825
6. Libby Landgraf, Nebraska	9.800		13. Alecia Ingram, Nebraska	9.325
9. Amy Ringo, Nebraska	9.725
Beam			Floor
1. Alecia Ingram, Nebraska	9.900		1. Bree Dority O'Callaghan, (NU)	9.925
2. A.J. Lamb, Nebraska	9.875		1. A.J. Lamb, Nebraska	9.925
3. Tami Harris, Nebraska	9.850		1. Jess Wertz, Nebraska	9.925
4. Bree Dority O'Callaghan, (NU)	9.825		4. Kelli Brown, NC State	9.900
4. Jen French, Nebraska	9.825		8. Amy Ringo, Nebraska	9.850
7. Amy Ringo, Nebraska	9.825		10. Jen French, Nebraska	9.800
			15. Tami Harris, Nebraska	9.275

All-Around
1. Kelli Brown, NC State	39.350
2. Tami Harris, Nebraska	38.950
3. Ashley Shible, Denver	38.900
4. Melanie Schiff, Denver	37.975
5. Emily Bankhead, Denver	37.950
6. Kara Charles, NC State	37.550

Red indicates a Masters Classic Record