Huskers Open 2021 Season Against No. 22 Illinois

No. 20 Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 22 Illinois Fighting Illini (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Friday, Jan. 15, 4:00 p.m. CT -- Lincoln, Neb. (Bob Devaney Sports Center)
Live Scores: Huskers.com
Stream: BTN+ (Paid Subscription)

Lincoln -- The Nebraska women's gymnastics team will begin the 2021 season with a dual against Illinois. The Huskers open their season at home at the Bob Devaney Sports Center against the Fighting Illini in a non-conference matchup. The meet will be streamed on BTN+.

The Huskers were ranked No. 20 in the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Preseason Coaches' Poll, while Illinois was placed at No. 22. The Huskers and Fighting Illini are two of the five Big Ten Conference teams ranked in the top 25 in the WCGA preseason coaches' poll, along with No. 5 Michigan, No. 11 Minnesota and No. 25 Iowa.

Nebraska also enters the 2021 season ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll, while Illinois ranks No. 5. NU ended the 2020 Big Ten regular season third in the standings. 

Returning six letter winners from last year's team, NU looks to build upon the. Nebraska finished ranked No. 19 at the end of the shortened season. NU also welcomes seven newcomers, including six freshmen.

Following the Huskers' meet against Illinois, Nebraska will head to University Park, Pa. for a road matchup against Penn State on Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. CT. This will serve as the first Big Ten Conference meet for both programs.

Fans can follow the Huskers on Twitter at @HuskersWGym, Instagram at @HuskersWGymnastics and Facebook at facebook.com/NebraskaWGym.

Notes:

SCOUTING ILLINOIS
Illinois opens its season against NU as the No. 22 ranked team in the nation. This ranking was decided by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) coaches' poll. The Illini ended the shortened 2020 season as the No. 24 ranked program in the Road To Nationals poll. The Huskers and Illini faced off last season at the Big Five meet on Feb. 21, where NU outscored Illinois by a score of 196.750-196.550.


SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS
Nebraska owns a stellar 75-24-1 record in season-opening meets. The Huskers have been victorious in five of their last seven season-openers, defeating a total of six teams in the process.
 
NEBRASKA OPENS SEASON RANKED NO. 20
Nebraska will enter the season as the No. 20 ranked program in the country, as decided by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) preseason coaches' poll. Nebraska is one of five Big Ten Conference programs ranked within the top 25, along with No. 5 Michigan, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 22 Illinois and No. 25 Iowa. 

NU RANKED THIRD IN BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
The Huskers enter the 2021 season as the No. 3 ranked team in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll. Michigan and Minnesota claimed the top two spots in the poll, while Iowa and Illinois round out the top five. 

BIG TEN SCHEDULE IN 2021
The Big Ten Conference announced that its members will participate in a conference-only regular season. Week one of the season for Nebraska will serve as a non-conference meet against Big Ten foe Illinois. Weeks 2-7 will serve as the Big Ten regular season, with the Big Ten regular season champion being crowned at the Big Five meet. Weeks eight and nine include non-conference meets against Big Ten opponents. 

ROBY, DAVIS NAMED GYMNASTS TO WATCH
The conference announced that senior Kynsee Roby and freshman Kinsey Davis were selected as Nebraska's Big Ten Women's Gymnasts to Watch for the 2021 season. 

UP NEXT
The Huskers travel to University Park, Pa. for their first Big Ten Conference matchup with Penn State. NU and Penn State face off on Jan. 23 at 3 p.m.

ROSTER OUTLOOK
The Huskers welcome back three seniors for the 2021 season. Makayla Curtis, Anika Dujakovich and Kynsee Roby will serve as veteran leaders for the program. The lone junior on the Huskers' squad is newcomer Kaitlyn Higgins, who started her career at Minnesota and will add depth for NU on beam and floor.

Nebraska's sophomore class consists of Clara Colombo, Kathryn Thaler and Kylie Piringer. Piringer looks to build upon the strong foundation she set during her freshman campaign after being named a second team All-Big Ten selection following the 2020 season. Head coach Heather Brink also welcomes six freshmen, Martina Comin, Kinsey Davis, Joanne De Jesus-Cortes, Chloé Lorange, Danielle Press and Caroline Williams.

HUSKERS INTRODUCE FIVE 2021 SIGNEES
Head Coach Heather Brink announced the signing of five future Husker gymnasts joining the 2021 women's gymnastics signing class. Ayzhia Hall (Fayetteville, AR), Emma Simpton (Dallas, Texas), Halle Rourke (Waverly, Neb.), Savanah Warren (Parker, CO) and Emma Spence (Cambridge, Ontario) will join NU's program for the 2021-22 season. 

CORNHUSKERS REPRESENT ACROSS UNITED STATES AND BEYOND
Nebraska features gymnasts from six states:  Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, New Jersey and Texas. The Huskers also feature three international gymnasts, Clara Colombo and Martina Comin of Italy and Chloé Lorange of Canada.