Although Ball State Gymnastics marked a season-best 48.725 in the vault, it was not enough to top Eastern Michigan, falling to the Eagles, 194.125-192.875.
When the Cardinals moved on to the vault, the team posted a total round score of 48.725 with the best performances coming from senior Sydney Finke, sophomore Arden Hudson, freshman Marissa Nychyk and freshman Stefanie Schweikert. Each one of these gymnasts posted a 9.750 score. This proved to be the best team score of the season and it was enough to tie as the highest scoring rotation of the night. Eastern Michigan tied this score in the floor event.
“This was the best score we had all season and it was a really solid performance,” head coach Joanna Saleem said. “Six or seven of those guys went out and hit their landings. They looked pretty good in the air.”
The vault proved to be the most consistent event of the evening for the Cardinals. Also contributing to this event was junior Maddie Macdonald scoring a 9.725 and graduate student Jordyn Penny with a 9.725. One of the senior leaders on the team, Finke, was very pleased with this outcome.
“I am really proud of the way myself and the team vaulted tonight,” said Finke. “I was really happy that I got to compete and I think we all did a good job of putting our best vaults out on the floor.”
MacDonald led the Cardinals in the bars with a score of 9.750. The floor event was led by senior Kaitlyn Menzione with a score of 9.800. Although Ball State’s lowest-scoring event was the beam, Penny won the event overall with a score of 9.825. This was followed by another high-scoring performance of 9.800 by freshman Lauren Volpe in the beam event.
“It was really exciting landing and seeing all of my teammates excited,” said Volpe. “If one skill does not go the way I want it to, I take a deep breathe and forget about it.”
The all-around scorer for the Cardinals was Nychyk with a score of 38.450.
Gymnasts from Eastern Michigan won three of the events. Even though the Cardinals did not claim a victory, the next event will bring the Cardinals home to host Western Michigan. This will be Ball State’s first home meet of the season. Although ultimately falling to Eastern Michigan, Saleem is confident in her team’s ability to adapt and compete.
“They did a pretty good job of making adjustments out there,” said Saleem. “We were going routine for routine with Eastern out there. We have some adjustments to make.”
Ball State Gymnastics will host the home-opener in Worthen Arena 1 p.m. next Saturday.
Contact Drew Pierce with any comments at dlpierce2@bsu.edu or Twitter @dpierce3cc.
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