Georgia Advances To NCAA Championships With Regional Win

Athens, Ga.-- Georgia reserved their spot at the NCAA Championships with a win at the NCAA Southeast Regional with a final score of 197.425 at Stegeman Coliseum in front of 7,196. It is the 23rd consecutive year that the Gym Dogs will advance to the championships.

No. 12-ranked Nebraska finished in second place 196.350 and will also travel to the NCAA Championships. Emily Parsons tied with Georgia’s Kelsey Ericksen as the top all-arounders at 39.500.

No. 13-ranked Missouri finished third with a 195.325, followed by No. 23 North Carolina (194.300), North Carolina State (193.925) and West Virginia tied for fifth place.

"I’m very proud of the girls," said Georgia head coach Suzanne Yoculan. "They fought for every chance. They did everything we asked them to do. We wanted to have a better meet than SECs and we did.

"I feel so much better going into the championships than I did after SECs. I felt that even though we won (SECs) that we were flat in some places and I didn’t want the team to get complacent knowing that they are number one in every event. That could be a dangerous thought. But they practiced hard this week and they came in here refocused to get a higher score and to make some corrections and they did that," Yoculan said.

Starting out on the floor exercise, Georgia took the lead with a team score of 49.375. Tiffany Tolnay tied her career high with a 9.900 and Kelsey Ericksen followed with a 9.900.

On vault, Tolnay led the team with a 9.925. Following close behind, Ericksen posted a 9.900 and Ashley Kupets scored 9.850. The team moved to its third rotation with a team total of 49.325.

Georgia's 98.725 after two events led the meet.

Courtney Kupets sited a 9.950 on the uneven bars to keep the Gym Dogs ahead with a team score of 49.325. Ericksen and Nikki Childs both contributed a 9.875.

The Gym Dogs finished the night on beam with a score of 49.375 as all competitors scored a 9.825 or higher. Katie Heenan tied her career high hitting a 9.950. Courtney Kupets posted a 9.900 and Audrey Bowers set her career high with a 9.850. Tolnay also scored a 9.850.

All-around results were due to the Gym Dogs. Following Ericksen’s tie for first, Katie Heenan finished third with a total score of 39.450. Tiffany Tolnay placed fourth with a 39.425 and Courtney Kupets took fifth place with a 39.275.

"It’s definitely all about the team and so many of the individuals came through tonight. Tonight was a meet about everybody in the lineup. Every single person contributed to our team score. I like to see everyone contributing," said Yoculan.

The undefeated Gym Dogs (26-0) will travel to Corvallis, Ore. April 20 to defend their National Championship.

 

Meet Notes:

Along with Georgia, the University of Nebraska qualified for an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships with a team score of 196.350. It marks the 17th time in program history that Nebraska has qualified for nationals and will be their eighth consecutive appearance dating back to 1999. "We just feel good about tonight," said Nebraska head coach Dan Kendig. "We are thrilled about going to nationals and that means we had a good meet tonight. It was fun meet, and I’m happy to be going to nationals."As far as our chances in Oregon, nationals this year is Georgia’s to lose. They’re fit and athletic, and it was fun being here and seeing them."Also making the trip to the NCAA championships will be all-arounders Adrianne Perry, a freshman from the University of Missouri, and Christine Robella, a junior from the University of North Carolina. Perry scored a 39.225 to become the 6th competitor in Missouri’s history to qualify for nationals in the all-around. Robella scored a 39.275 to advance. Leigha Hancock, a sophomore from North Carolina State University, qualified for nationals in the floor exercise by tying for the high score of 9.900.