Sunday, January 16
Kalamazoo, MI
1 p.m.
Ball State University
195.675
at
196.000
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Western Michigan
Gymnastics Turns in Solid Performance in MAC Opener at WMU
January 16, 2022 | Gymnastics
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - - The Ball State gymnastics team was firing on all cylinders Sunday afternoon, opening Mid-American Conference dual action with the sixth-best team score in program history at 195.675.
Unfortunately, the effort was not enough to top the host Broncos who won the meet with a score of 196.000. Despite the loss, the Cardinals (1-3; 0-1 MAC) tallied season-best scores in all four events: vault (49.100), bars (48.850), beam (48.875) and floor (48.800).
In fact, Ball State's vault score of 49.100 tied as the second-best in program history and currently ranks as one of the top 10 efforts nationally.
Highlighting the Cardinals effort on the day was sophomore Hannah Ruthberg who tied the fourth-best all-around score in program history with a 39.275. She counted 9.800-or-better marks in all four events, including career-high routines of 9.850 on beam and 9.825 on vault.
Sophomores Suki Pfister and Victoria Henry tied for the top spot on vault (9.850), while senior Lauren Volpe took home top billing on beam (9.875).
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 – Bars
- The Cardinals tallied their best bars score of the young season, counting five scores of 9.725-or-higher for a mark of 48.850.
- Sophomores Hannah Ruthberg and Victoria Henry led the way with season-best scores of 9.800
- Junior Grace Evans and sophomore Kelly Sulek also registered season-best marks of 9.775 and 9.750, respectively
- Freshman Grace Sumner rounded out Ball State's five countable scorers, tying her career best at 9.725.
Rotation 2 – Vault
- Ball State's second rotation was even better, as the team tied the second-best score in program history at 49.100, counting four scores of 9.825-or-better … The score is currently tied as the ninth-best in the nation.
- Sophomores Suki Pfister and Victoria Henry tied for the event win at 9.850 … Pfister's mark also tied her career-best set Friday at Kentucky.
- Senior Sandra Elsadek landed a career-best vault of 9.825, as did sophomore Hannah Ruthberg
Rotation 3 – Floor
- The Cardinals added their third season-best team score of the day on floor, combining for a 48.850.
- Sophomore Victoria Henry was the top Ball State performer for the third consecutive event, tying her career best with a routine worth 9.825.
- Sophomore Hannah Ruthberg was not far behind, landing a season-best 9.800.
- The Cardinals also counted a season-best 9.775 from junior Alivia Ostendorf, and 9.725s from senior Sandra Elsadek and junior Grace Evans … Evans' mark of 9.725 was a career-best.
Rotation 4 – Beam
- BSU wrapped up the meet with a season-best 48.875 on beam, giving it season-best marks in all four events
- For the third straight meet, senior Lauren Volpe led Ball State on beam, upping her career-best score to 9.875.
- Sophomore Hannah Ruthberg (9.850) and junior Alivia Ostendorf (9.775) also turned in career-best beam routines.
All-Around
- Sophomore Hannah Ruthberg earned a career-best 39.275 points, which ties as the fourth-best score in program history … She scored career-best routines of 9.850 on beam and 9.825 on vault, while adding scores of 9.800 on both bars and floor.
FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA SALEEM:
"We're asking our team to go out and get a little better each meet. They were better today than they were on Friday, and they were better Friday than the weekend before. That's what we want to see. Knowing there is still room to grow and improve each week, that's something I'm excited about. We're not by any means, tapped out at the top. There are still things we can fix and get out there and work on."
"To be on the road for two meets this weekend, and to get solid scores in both, is something I am really happy with."
"I'm excited for Hannah, getting out there and hitting all four of her events and turning in a career-best all-around score. Lauren stayed calm and collected throughout her entire beam routine and performed really well."
UP NEXT:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action next Sunday (Jan. 23) with its first of four home meets on the season. The Cardinals are slated to host Kent State at 1 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
Unfortunately, the effort was not enough to top the host Broncos who won the meet with a score of 196.000. Despite the loss, the Cardinals (1-3; 0-1 MAC) tallied season-best scores in all four events: vault (49.100), bars (48.850), beam (48.875) and floor (48.800).
In fact, Ball State's vault score of 49.100 tied as the second-best in program history and currently ranks as one of the top 10 efforts nationally.
Highlighting the Cardinals effort on the day was sophomore Hannah Ruthberg who tied the fourth-best all-around score in program history with a 39.275. She counted 9.800-or-better marks in all four events, including career-high routines of 9.850 on beam and 9.825 on vault.
Sophomores Suki Pfister and Victoria Henry tied for the top spot on vault (9.850), while senior Lauren Volpe took home top billing on beam (9.875).
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 – Bars
- The Cardinals tallied their best bars score of the young season, counting five scores of 9.725-or-higher for a mark of 48.850.
- Sophomores Hannah Ruthberg and Victoria Henry led the way with season-best scores of 9.800
- Junior Grace Evans and sophomore Kelly Sulek also registered season-best marks of 9.775 and 9.750, respectively
- Freshman Grace Sumner rounded out Ball State's five countable scorers, tying her career best at 9.725.
Rotation 2 – Vault
- Ball State's second rotation was even better, as the team tied the second-best score in program history at 49.100, counting four scores of 9.825-or-better … The score is currently tied as the ninth-best in the nation.
- Sophomores Suki Pfister and Victoria Henry tied for the event win at 9.850 … Pfister's mark also tied her career-best set Friday at Kentucky.
- Senior Sandra Elsadek landed a career-best vault of 9.825, as did sophomore Hannah Ruthberg
Rotation 3 – Floor
- The Cardinals added their third season-best team score of the day on floor, combining for a 48.850.
- Sophomore Victoria Henry was the top Ball State performer for the third consecutive event, tying her career best with a routine worth 9.825.
- Sophomore Hannah Ruthberg was not far behind, landing a season-best 9.800.
- The Cardinals also counted a season-best 9.775 from junior Alivia Ostendorf, and 9.725s from senior Sandra Elsadek and junior Grace Evans … Evans' mark of 9.725 was a career-best.
Rotation 4 – Beam
- BSU wrapped up the meet with a season-best 48.875 on beam, giving it season-best marks in all four events
- For the third straight meet, senior Lauren Volpe led Ball State on beam, upping her career-best score to 9.875.
- Sophomore Hannah Ruthberg (9.850) and junior Alivia Ostendorf (9.775) also turned in career-best beam routines.
All-Around
- Sophomore Hannah Ruthberg earned a career-best 39.275 points, which ties as the fourth-best score in program history … She scored career-best routines of 9.850 on beam and 9.825 on vault, while adding scores of 9.800 on both bars and floor.
FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA SALEEM:
"We're asking our team to go out and get a little better each meet. They were better today than they were on Friday, and they were better Friday than the weekend before. That's what we want to see. Knowing there is still room to grow and improve each week, that's something I'm excited about. We're not by any means, tapped out at the top. There are still things we can fix and get out there and work on."
"To be on the road for two meets this weekend, and to get solid scores in both, is something I am really happy with."
"I'm excited for Hannah, getting out there and hitting all four of her events and turning in a career-best all-around score. Lauren stayed calm and collected throughout her entire beam routine and performed really well."
UP NEXT:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action next Sunday (Jan. 23) with its first of four home meets on the season. The Cardinals are slated to host Kent State at 1 p.m. in Worthen Arena.
Players Mentioned
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