Women s Gymnastics MEET FOUR: NO. 7 NEBRASKA AT NO. 4 MICHIGAN

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1 Women s Gymnastics 137 all-americans 30 consecutive postseason appearances 25 conference championships 15 cosida academic all-americans 5 ncaa champions 22 ncaa championship appearances Gymnastics Contact: Maggie Still I Office: I Cell: I Media Relations Fax: I mstill@huskers.com MEET FOUR: NO. 7 NEBRASKA AT NO. 4 MICHIGAN Saturday, Jan p.m. Ann, Arbor, Mich. BIG TEN SHOWDOWN SET AT NO. 4 MICHIGAN The No. 7 Nebraska women s gymnastics team heads to Ann Arbor, Mich., this Saturday Jan. 31 as the Huskers face their toughest opponent in No. 4 Michigan for a Big Ten battle which features two undefeated teams. Action from the Crisler Arena is set to begin at 3 p.m. CT. Live stats for Saturday s meet will be available at with a live stream available for subscribers at BTN2go. com. Fans can also follow the women s gymnastics Twitter feed for scores by The Huskers (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) and the Wolverines (4-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are the top-two teams in the conference with Michigan as the preseason favorite to earn the Big Ten crown. On Saturday the two teams will go head-to-head in what could be the determining meet for the Big Ten regular-season title. Nebraska leads Michigan all-time in the series holding a edge. The two teams last met at the 2014 Big Ten Championships, where Michigan took home the victory and the Championship crown. A Glance At Michigan Head Coach: Bev Plocki (26th Year) 2015 Record: 4-0, 2-0 Big Ten 2015 High Score: Conference Finish: 1st (197.55) 2014 NCAA Finish: 10th 2014 High Score: Scouting the Wolverines Last season Michigan took home the Big Ten Championship title with a score. Michigan finished 10th at the 2014 NCAA Championships ( ). The Wolverines have held a top-10 spot in the national rankings all season long and own a average score. Nicole Artz paces the Wolverines as she is the Big Ten s top all-around performer with a score. She currently has the top floor routine in the country as she is ranked No. 1 with a mark. Michigan pulls down four top-10 rankings on each apparatus as they are the No. 9 team on vault (49.208), No. 5 on bars (49.150), No. 2 on beam (49.192) and fourth on floor (49.258). Nebraska s Rotation Order at Michigan Rotation Nebraska Michigan 1. Uneven Bars Vault 2. Vault Uneven Bars 3. Floor Exercise Balance Beam 4. Balance Beam Floor Exercise Last Time Out: Vault efforts power No. 6 Huskers to win at Rutgers The No. 6 Nebraska women s gymnastics team captured three individual event titles including the all-around competition to finish first place in a quad meet at Rutgers. The Huskers, tabbed a to top Rutgers, who finished with a , Southern Connecticut ( ) and Brockport ( ). Ashley Lambert broke records today as she posted yet another perfect on vault to become the first Nebraska gymnast to post back-to-back 10 s on an event. Her second consecutive perfect score should catapult her into the top three nationally on the event. Senior Jessie DeZiel had a notable afternoon as she took home the bars title (9.90) en-route to her first all-around crown of the season Schedule Date Opponent/Meet Time/Results Jan. 9 Lindenwood W, Jan. 17 Penn State W, Jan. 24 at Rutgers W, st/4 with Brockport, Southern Conn. Jan. 31 at Michigan 3 p.m. Feb. 7 Iowa 6 p.m. Feb. 14 at Minnesota 6 p.m. Feb. 21 at UCLA 4 p.m. with Arizona, Sacramento State March 1 Masters Classic 2 p.m. with Illinois, San Jose State March 7 Oregon State 6 p.m. March 14 Big Ten Big Five Meet Noon with Illinois, Michigan State, Ohio State, Maryland March 21 Big Ten Championships TBA (at Michigan) April 4 NCAA Regional TBA April NCAA Championships TBA (in Fort Worth Texas) Note: All times listed are central and subject to change. Home meets are in bold and will be held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Roster Name Yr. Events Hometown Hollie Blanske Jr. AA Oak Grove, Minn. Danielle Breen Fr. AA Ames, Iowa Jessie DeZiel Sr. AA Rogers, Minn. Jennie Laeng So. AA West Middlesex, Pa. Ashley Lambert So. AA Newport News, Va. Amanda Lauer Sr. AA Sioux City, Iowa Jennifer Lauer Sr. AA Sioux City, Iowa Ariel Martin So. AA Chicago, Ill. Madison McConkey Jr. AA Lincoln, Neb. Kamerin Moore Fr. AA West Bloomfield, Mich. Desire Stephens Sr. AA Omaha, Neb. Grace Williams Fr. AA Linden, Mich. Head Coach: Dan Kendig (22nd Year) Assistant Coach: Heather Brink (Fourth Year) Assistant Coach: Dan Miller (Fourth Year) Volunteer Assistant Coach: Russell Warfield (First Year) Volunteer Student Assistant: Emily Wong (First Year) Manager: Owen Field (Fifth Year)

2 GymInfo National Rankings Released Jan. 19, 2015 Rank Team Team Average 1. Oklahoma LSU Florida Michigan Utah Alabama Nebraska Arkansas Penn State Oregon State Georgia Auburn Boise State Illinois UCLA Ohio State Washington Arizona Stanford Denver Michigan State Southern Utah California New Hampshire Kentucky Nebraska s Team Event Rankings Event Rank Average Vault 1st Bars 13th Beam 16th Floor 10th Huskers in the National Rankings Gymnast Event Rank Average Hollie Blanske V 9th FX 19th Jessie DeZiel AA 14th V 5th Ashley Lambert AA 16th V 2nd Grace Williams BB 21st Sophomore Ashley Lambert is the first Nebraska women s gymnast to record two perfect s on a single event in back to back weeks. Hollie Blanske and Grace Williams both put together key floor routines to take a share in the floor title with a 9.90 mark. The Huskers started the afternoon on bars where they produced their season high team mark of All five gymnasts scored above a 9.80, including DeZiel who captured her season-high 9.90 in the rotation. Blanske followed up with a 9.85, while the duo of Danielle Breen and Jennie Laeng tabbed identical marks. On her first bar routine of the season Jennifer Lauer picked up at 9.80 to round out the Big Red bars squad. Rutgers posted a on vault, while Southern Connecticut picked up a mark of and Brockport a After one full rotation NU jumped out to a key lead to start the meet. Nebraska battled uncharacteristic struggles in their second rotation on beam, fighting to their lowest total on the event in over two years of NU was led by Laeng who collected a 9.85, while the duo of DeZiel and Williams tacked on scores. Breen produced a solid 9.70 effort but, in recording two falls on the event Blanske s 9.05 mark was needed for the fifth routine count. Rutgers led all squads in the second rotation, earning a on bars. With two events down, Rutgers led the meet with a The Huskers fell to second with a , while Southern Connecticut (95.475) and Brockport (93.700) rounded out the scores. NU bounced back to take the lead in its third rotation on floor notching a team mark. The Huskers were fueled by the 9.90 duo of Blanske and Williams. The 9.90 score is Williams new career high. Desire Stephens in her exciting routine added on a 9.85 while Kamerin Moore chipped in a Heading into the fourth rotation the Huskers took back the lead from Rutgers as they posted a score on beam. Nebraska held a lead over all four teams. NU carried their momentum onto vault where the Huskers put together yet another seamless vault rotation hitting an incredible team score. Ashley Lambert paved the way soaring to a perfect 10.00, her second in two weeks. NU showed consistency as Blanske tied her career-high mark of 9.95, as DeZiel and Moore snagged 9.90 marks. The No. 1 vault team in the nation now averages a mark on the event. Huskers in the Rankings The Nebraska women s gymnastics team moved down one spot to No. 7 in this weeks latest GymInfo poll. The poll, which is calculated by total season average, also ranks NU second in the South Central Region and second in the Big Ten. Oklahoma still holds onto the No. 1 spot this week, while No. 2 LSU sneaked up and took the second spot from No. 3 Florida. This week s opponent Michigan takes the No. 4 position and Utah rounds out the top five teams in the country as of Jan. 26th. Along with the Huskers and Michigan, Penn State is the other Big Ten team inside the top-10 to represent the conference well. The Huskers remain the No. 1 vaulting team in the country for the second week in a row with a average. Along with the No. 1 vault ranking NU also remains inside the top-20 on every event. The Big Red pulls down a 13th ranking on bars (48.933), 16th on beam (48.767) and 10th on floor (49.025). In addition to Nebraska s team efforts, four Huskers collected a total of seven top-25 national rankings as individuals. Ashley Lambert with the highest ranking for the Big Red with an appearance at No. 2 on vault (9.938) behind Florida s Bridget Sloan. Lambert also pulls down a No.

3 16 ranking in the all-around behind Jessie DeZiel who is currently No. 14 with a average score. On vault Nebraska owns three top-10 rankings as Lambert is No. 2, DeZiel comes in at No. 5 and Hollie Blanske making an appearance at No. 9. Blanske also sneaks into the floor rankings as she is currently ranked 19th with a average mark. Freshman Grace Williams holds steady in the beam rankings as she is notched at No. 21 with a 9.85 score. Lambert Collects Weekly Honor after Big weekend The No. 7 Nebraska women s gymnastics team earned its second conference honor of the season as sophomore Ashley Lambert captured Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week announced by the conference Monday. Lambert earned her first career weekly honor after excelling on vault for the second weekend in a row. The Newport News, Va., native captured her third consecutive vault title with another perfect score. Lambert started the 2015 season with a bang at the opening meet where she took home two event titles on vault (9.875) and floor (9.825) en route to her first career all-around crown (39.175). Following the season opener, Lambert notched her name in history books as she became the first Husker to record a on vault since She was a member of a historical vault lineup that put together a team score to break the school record and claim the No. 1 vault team ranking in the country. This past weekend at the Rutgers quad meet Lambert broke yet again another record as she stuck a perfect on vault for the second week in a row. She is the first Nebraska gymnast to post back-to-back 10 s on a single event. As rankings were released today Lambert sits as the No. 2 vaulter in the country behind Bridget Sloan. Although Florida s Sloan is currently the No. 1 ranked gymnast on the event, she has only competed in one meet this season before falling to injury. Lambert s averages a mark competing in three meets, Sloan averages a competing in only one meet. In team rankings, the Huskers picked up a No. 7 overall ranking and hold steady as the No. 1 vaulting team in the country. Three gymnasts pull down top-10 rankings on vault as Lambert comes in at No. 2, Jessie DeZiel No. 5 and Hollie Blanske No. 9. Up Next for Nebraska The Huskers will return home next Saturday Feb. 7 to take on Big Ten opponent Iowa in a conference home dual. Action from the Bob Devaney Sports Center is set to start at 6 p.m. and will serve as Nebraska s Power of the Pink meet in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Fans will be encouraged to sport all their pink gear. NU holds an impressive 21-3 edge all-time over Iowa, with the last meeting between the two coming last season at the Big Ten Championships as the Huskers took a victory over the Hawkeyes. Husker Seniors Look to Shine in Final Season With a young but deep roster this season, the Huskers will count on the leadership and experience of the four seniors to anchor their efforts. Jessie DeZiel, Amanda Lauer, Jennifer Lauer and Desire Stephens will look to shine in the gym, classroom and in the community in their final season at Nebraska. Leading the way for the Huskers is one of Nebraska s most decorated returners in 2015, Jessie DeZiel will enter her final season at NU hoping to put an exclamation point on a fantastic fouryear career. Coming off a remarkable junior season with two All-America honors and another vault regional title, DeZiel will lead the team on all four events. Amanda Lauer is looking to keep her strong momentum going into this season as one of NU s top beam workers. She will not only provide solid depth on multiple events, but will help lead the team with crucial beam performances. Sister, Jennifer Lauer will look to finish her career at Nebraska on a high note after battling an injury last season. She is set to lead the beam lineup and hopes to contend for a conference title. Desire Stephens will look to be a big-time contributor on all four events for the Huskers in her final year. Known as the team s spark-plug, Stephens expects to finish on a high note. Nebraska s All-America Awards All-Around (First Team) Jessie DeZiel All-Around (Second Team) Jessie DeZiel , 2014 Balance Beam (First Team) Hollie Blanske Jessie DeZiel Balance Beam (Second Team) Jessie DeZiel Vault (Second Team) Jessie DeZiel Floor Exercise (First Team) Jessie DeZiel Nebraska s 2014 Big Ten Awards All-Big Ten Jessie DeZiel...First Team Emily Wong...First Team Hollie Blanske...Second Team All-Big Ten Championship Team Hollie Blanske... AA, BB, FX Jessie DeZiel... V, UB Emily Wong...BB, FX 2014 Academic All-Big Ten Jordyn Beck Hollie Blanske Jessie DeZiel Amanda Lauer Jennifer Lauer Jamie Schleppenbach Desire Stephens Emily Wong 3

4 Individual Event Titles Hollie Blanske (4) Bars (1): vs. Penn State, 1/17/15 (9.85) Floor (2): vs. Penn State, 1/17/15 (9.925); at Rutgers, /24/15 (9.90) All-Around (1): vs. Penn State, 1/17/15 (39.50) Jessie DeZiel (2) Bars (1): at Rutgers, 1/24/15 (9.90) All-Around (1): at Rutgers, 1/24/15 (39.350) Jennie Laeng (1) Bars (1): vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15 (9.825) Ashley Lambert (6) Vault (3): vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15 (9.875); vs. Penn State, 1/14/15 (10.00); at Rutgers, 1/24/15 (10.00) Bars (1): vs. Penn State, 1/17/19 (9.85) Floor (1): vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15 (9.825) All-Around (1): vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15 (39.175) Grace Williams (3) Beam (2): vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15 (9.80); vs. Penn State, 1/17/15 (9.925) Floor (1): at Rutgers, 1/24/15 (9.90) Juniors Ready to Provide Spark Nebraska s junior class returns a duo of the hardest workers on the team with Hollie Blanske and Madison McConkey. One of Nebraska s top performers in 2014, first-team All-American Hollie Blanske hopes to contend for Big Ten and NCAA titles as a junior. A tremendous athlete, Blanske expects to be a leader in the all-around this season. Madison McConkey provided important depth down the stretch for the Huskers last season and returns to serve as a strong competitor on bars and beam. Sophomores Prepared to Step-Up Jennie Laeng, Ashley Lambert and Ariel Martin have provided not only crucial depth but also a spark for the team when needed it the most, these sophomores are ready to step up into important roles this season. Jennie Laeng will carry momentum into this season after a strong finish to her freshman campaign. Laeng will be returning as one of NU s top bars competitors after earning her way into the all-around competition as a freshman. Ashley Lambert is ready to make a run at all NU lineups this year after contributing solid vault and floor routines in Lambert coming off an incredible offseason is set to be a spark on the vault and floor. Ariel Martin is poised to be a leading candidate for the Huskers bars, vault and floor lineups in her second year with NU. She will return as one of NU s top vaulters. Newcomers Await Big Future The Huskers welcome three freshman to the squad who will all fill important roles with the loss of Emily Wong and Jamie Schleppenbach. Danielle Breen opens her Husker career with hopes of contributing in multiple Nebraska lineups. Breen will get a good look from the NU coaching staff on bars, beam and vault in her freshman season. Kamerin Moore enters her freshman year with a steady set of skills and a work ethic the coaches believe will push her into competitive spots in the Nebraska lineups. Moore will battle upperclassmen for a spot in all event lineups. Grace Williams will see considerable time in many of the Huskers lineups this season. The Linden, Mich., native, brings strong experience on many events and has the potential to break into all lineups. Kendig Builds One of Nation s Top Programs Now in his 22nd year at the helm of the Nebraska gymnastics program, Head Coach Dan Kendig is the all-time winningest coach in Nebraska history. Since Kendig arrived at NU, his teams have compiled an outstanding record. His most recent honor was in 2012 when he earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors after guiding the Huskers to the program s 22nd conference title. Kendig has also led the Huskers to 16 NCAA Championship appearances in the past 19 seasons, including Super Six Finals appearances in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2006, 2007, 2011 and Kendig was honored as the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2003, a year in which the Huskers finished fourth nationally. 4

5 Hollie Blanske - Junior Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Danielle Breen - Freshman Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Jessie DeZiel - Senior Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Jennie Laeng - Sophomore Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Ashley Lambert - Sophomore Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Jennifer Lauer - Senior Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs

6 Madison McConkey - Junior Lindenwood (ex.) Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Kamerin Moore - Freshman Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Desire Stephens - Senior Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Grace Williams - Freshman Lindenwood Penn State at Rutgers Season Highs Team High Scores Overall: Vault: Bars: Beam: Floor: vs. Penn State at Rutgers vs. Penn State vs. Penn State 6

7 Husker High Scores Hollie Blanske Vault: 9.95 (3 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Bars: 9.90 (2 times, last at Masters Classic, 2/23/14) Beam: 9.90 (3 times, last at NCAA Super Six, 4/19/14) Floor: 9.95 (at Big Ten Championships, 3/22/14) All-Around: (at Big Ten Championships, 3/22/14) Vault: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Bars: 9.85 (2 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Beam: 9.80 ((vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) All-Around: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Danielle Breen Bars: (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Beam: 9.85 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Bars: (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Beam: 9.85 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Jessie DeZiel Vault: (2 times, last vs. Arkansas, 3/8/14) Bars: (4 times, last at Seattle Regional, 4/5/14) Beam: 9.90 (7 times, last at NCAA Semifinals, 4/18/14) Floor: 9.95 (2 times, last at Big Ten Championships, 3/23/13) All-Around: (vs. Iowa, 3/4/13) Vault: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Bars: 9.90 (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Beam: 9.85 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) All-Around: (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Jennie Laeng Vault: (at Big Ten Quad, 3/15/14) Bars (vs. Michigan, 2/14/14) Beam: 9.90 (at NCAA Super Six, 4/19/14) Floor: 9.85 (vs. Arkansas, 3/8/14) All-Around: (at Big Ten Quad, 3/15/14) Vault: 9.85 (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Bars: (2 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Beam: 9.85 (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Madison McConkey Bars: 9.70 (vs. Arkansas, 3/8/14) Floor: 8.85 (vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15) Bars: 9.55 (vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15) Floor: 8.55 (vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15) 7 Ashley Lambert Vault: (2 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Bars: 9.85 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Beam: 9.80 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: (vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15) Vault: (2 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Bars: 9.85 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Beam: 9.80 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: (vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15) All-Around: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Jennifer Lauer Vault: 9.85 (2 times, last at NCAA Salt Lake Regional, 4/7/12) Bars: 9.90 (2 times, last vs. Minnesota, 2/1/14) Beam: 9.95 (vs. Michigan, 1/12/13) Floor: 9.90 (vs. Iowa, 3/4/13) All-Around: (2 times, last vs. Michigan State, 1/19/13) Bars: 9.80 (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Beam: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: (vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15) Kamerin Moore Vault: 9.90 (2 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Bars: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: 9.85 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Vault: 9.90 (2 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Bars: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: 9.85 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Desiré Stephens Vault: 9.95 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Bars: (vs. Northern Illinois, 1/12/14) Beam: (vs. Michigan, 2/14/14) Floor: 9.85 (4 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) All-Around: (vs. Michigan, 2/14/14) Vault: 9.95 (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: 9.85 (2 times, last at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Grace Williams Vault: (vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15) Bars: 9.75 (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Beam: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: 9.90 (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Vault: (vs. Lindenwood, 1/9/15) Bars: 9.75 (at Rutgers, 1/24/15) Beam: (vs. Penn State, 1/17/15) Floor: 9.90 (at Rutgers, 1/24/15)

8 NEBRASKA 2015 Roster Danielle Breen Freshman AA 5-4 Ames, Iowa Jessie DeZiel Senior AA 5-4 Rogers, Minn. Jennie Laeng Sophomore AA 5-7 West Middlesex, Pa. Ashley Lambert Sophomore AA 5-0 Newport News, Va. Amanda Lauer Senior AA 5-3 Sioux City, Iowa Jennifer Lauer Senior AA 5-3 Sioux City, Iowa Ariel Martin Sophomore AA 5-3 Chicago, Ill. Madison McConkey Junior AA 5-4 Lincoln, Neb. Kamerin Moore Freshman AA 5-3 West Bloomfield, Mich. Desiré Stephens Senior AA 5-1 Omaha, Neb. Grace Williams Freshman AA 5-1 Linden, Mich. Hollie Blanske Junior AA 5-2 Oak Grove, Minn. Russell Warfield Volunteer Assistant Coach First Season Heather Brink Assistant Coach Fourth Season Dan Kendig Head Coach 22nd Season 8 Dan Miller Assistant Coach Fourth Season Owen Field Student Manager Fifth Season