Maryland gymnastics fell short of 49 in every event through three rotations. Then came beam, the team’s worst event this season.
Fueled by an excellent showing on beam, Maryland posted its best final score of the season. But the Terps came up short in a 196.325-195.950 loss to Nebraska on Sunday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Maryland’s (2-4, 0-2 Big Ten) bars lineup had a scorching start.
Seniors Victoria Gatzendorfer and Sierra Kondo posted a 9.750 and 9.875, respectively, while budding freshman Sarah Saville, the Terps’ second-leading scorer on bars, matched her season average with a 9.850.
Bars specialist Hailey Merchant slightly stumbled forward during her dismount after underrotating, dropping her score to a 9.675, also in line with her event average on the year.
All-arounder Alexa Rothenbuescher, Maryland’s most experienced player, positioned herself too far away from the apparatus and lost her grip on the bar. Coach Brett Nelligan immediately approached the graduate student and spoke to her as she chalked her hands before restarting her routine.
“We try to settle her nerves and just finish up the routine safely,” Nelligan said. “She’s a great bar worker. I have no doubt that she’ll be back to regular form next week.”
Rothenbuescher took the bars again, then paused for a second time and dismounted.
[No. 23 Maryland gymnastics falls to No. 11 UCLA in home opener, 197.550-194.850]
The Fairfax, Virginia, product’s score was deducted to an 8.100, marking the second meet in a row she faced penalties for stopping her routine. Against UCLA on Jan. 18, Rothenbuescher was unable to finish on floor after feeling cramping in her leg.
Fortunately for the Terps, Rhea LeBlanc stepped up knowing Rothenbuescher’s score would be dropped.
The senior posted a 9.775, fueling Maryland to a solid 48.925 total on bars.
On vault, where Maryland ranks 34th in the nation, the Terps took a step back from their performance against UCLA.
The new-look vault lineup’s first meet lacked consistency and comfort, scoring 48.550, but looked like a different team against UCLA, posting a strong 48.950. On Sunday, the squad looked somewhere in between, scoring 48.725.
All six gymnasts scored at least a 9.700 — promising consistency for a lineup still looking to build experience.
Following a 7.250 on floor last meet, Rothenbuescher rebounded this week with a team-high 9.850.
“Last week was a little scary,” Nelligan said. “And so for this week to go out there and perform a routine like we know she’s capable of, it was really great for her. And I think it sent a great message to the team.”
Sophomore Natalie Martin and LeBlanc, Maryland’s top two scorers on floor this season, each scored 9.825.
Maryland totaled 48.975. That equaled its total from last week’s meet and was its second score above 48.9, but the Terps failed to reach 49 once again.
On beam, the team’s worst event at No. 52 nationally, Maryland blew past that mark.
[Maryland gymnastics opens season with third place finish in San Antonio Collegiate Invite]
After posting a 47.675, easily their worst score of the season, last week, the Terps scored 49.325, the highest on any event this year.
Sophomore Lauren Brendlinger capped off her routine by nailing a roundoff dismount, en route to a season-high 9.850.
Aside from Martin, whose 9.500 was dropped, every member of the lineup recorded a season-high score on beam. The lowest score counted was Layla Hammer’s 9.825.
Maryland’s first road dual meet in Lincoln came after a historic first home meet against No. 11 UCLA.
In a new program attendance record, over 7,000 flocked to Xfinity Center to take in a top-25 duel featuring Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles.
Individually, senior Sierra Kondo, Maryland’s leading scorer on bars, outdid herself with a 9.950. The score is not only a season-high for any event, but matches the individual score program record.
Kondo’s stellar outing helped push Maryland to number 14 in the country on bars, but the Terps still failed to move up in the overall ranks, sitting at No. 29 entering Sunday.
