Late Push Lifts Gymnastics Past Northern Illinois

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State gymnastics team rallied from a rough second rotation to earn a hard-fought 196.050-195.950 victory over Northern Illinois Sunday afternoon in Mid-American Conference action at Worthen Arena.

"I think there were some really good moments today," head coach Joanna Saleem said. "While we had some adversity on bars, we moved on and competed hard on both beam and floor. We did what we have been doing in the practice gym, and that is focusing on the gymnastics and not getting stuck on the mistakes we made."

The Cardinals (11-4; 2-0 MAC), which earned its ninth consecutive head-to-head victory, opened the meet by tying the 12th-best vault score in program history at 49.050. However, a rough showing on bars gave the visiting Huskies (6-3; 2-2 MAC) a 98.050 to 97.500 edge after two rotations.

Ball State kicked it into high gear for the final two rotations, however, starting with the second-best beam score in program history at 49.300. That effort was led by fifth-year senior Lauren Volpe and senior Taylor Waldo who each tied the program record with scores of 9.925. In fact, it was Waldo's third record-tying effort of the season.

The Cardinals carried over the momentum onto floor, earning the ninth-best team score in program history at 49.250. Leading the way in that event was freshman Zoe Middleton, whose score of 9.925 was not only a career-best effort, but ties as the eighth-best individual score in program history.

"In the middle of season, to have a meet where you are going to count a fall, to come back and be aggressive towards the end is an important lesson," Saleem added. "I think they did well with that."

Of the Cardinals final 10 countable scores, three were 9.925s and nine were 9.800-or-better. Ball State finished the day with 15 routines of 9.800-or-better. In addition, the team's final score of 196.050 is the fourth-best in program history.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
Rotation 1 – Vault (49.050):
- It was another solid start for the Cardinals who tied the 12th-best team vault score in program history with a 49.050
- Once again Suki Pfister led the way for Ball State on vault, scoring a 9.850
- Victoria Henry followed with a 9.825, while Zoe Middleton and Hannah Ruthberg each scored 9.800
- The Cardinals also received a pair of 9.775s from Megan Teter and Leah White to complete a solid opening rotation

Rotation 2 – Bars (48.450)
- Grace Sumner led the way for the Cardinals on bars, leading off the rotation with a career-best 9.850
- Zoe Middleton followed with a career-best of her own, landing a 9.800
- The Cardinals also counted a pair of 9.775s from Hannah Ruthberg and Megan Teter

Rotation 3 – Beam (49.300)
- The Cardinals tallied the second-best team beam score in program history with a 49.300
- The effort included two more program record scores of 9.925, with Lauren Volpe hitting it for the first time in her career and Taylor Waldo landing it for the third time this season
- Grace Sumner follow with a 9.875, while the Cardinals also counted a 9.825 from Hannah Ruthberg and a 9.750 from Victoria Henry

Rotation 4 – Floor (49.250)
- The Cardinals ended the meet with the ninth-best team floor score in program history at 49.250
- Zoe Middleton led the way, with a career-best score of 9.925 which ties as the eight-best individual score in program history
- Megan Teter closed the meet with a brilliant performance of her own, scoring 9.875
- The Cardinals also counted a season-best 9.850 from Taylor Waldo, as well as 9.800s from Victoria Henry and Suki Pfister

All-Around:
- Hannah Ruthberg was Ball State's top all-around, placing second overall with a score of 39.150
- Ruthberg's day included a 9.825 on beam, a 9.800 on vault, a 9.775 on bars, and a 9.750 on floor
- Victoria Henry finished her all-around performance with a score of 38.625, led by a 9.825 on vault and a 9.800 on floor

More From Saleem:
- ABOUT BEAM: In this beam group, every one of them is capable of going 9.950-or-higher. They are doing that day in and day out in the gym.
- TAYLOR WALDO ON HER THIRD 9.925 ON BEAM THIS SEASON: Her routine has always been able to score that high. She has really worked hard to sharpen up and find the rhythm to present. To see her do that in her senior year, it's been building and shows she hasn't settled and has worked hard to get better and better every time out. I don't think she's done yet.
- ON ZOE MIDDLETON: Zoe is awesome. For today's floor routine, we added some moves in the first pass, and it helped make in an enhanced routine. In her first time doing this particular routine, she went out and sold it. She is very dynamic and explosive and in those tumbling passes, for what she does, she does very well. It was a fun routine, and to see that shine in her eye and see her gaining confidence as she went on was exciting to watch.

Next Time Out:
The Ball State gymnastics team returns to action next Sunday, with it travels to Kent State for a 1 p.m. showdown with the Golden Flashes. KSU's Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center will also be the host site of the 2023 Mid-American Conference Championships on March 18.

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Players Mentioned

Victoria Henry

Zoe Middleton

Suki Pfister

Hannah Ruthberg

Grace Sumner

Megan Teter

Lauren Volpe

Taylor Waldo

Leah White