A good start is what sets the tone for the rest of the meet, and the No. 16 Penn State women's gymnastics team did not get off to a good start on Saturday night.

At the Big Ten Championships, the Nittany Lions started off on the balance beam and did not perform to their ability, posting a 47.825 that ended up being their lowest score in that event all season.

The team had to rally back from this deficit but was only able to place third, with a team score of 194.925. Minnesota and Michigan State took first and second place, respectively. Only 0.05 ended up being the difference between the Lions and the Spartans.

"It was very tough starting on beam. The coaching staff saw that Minnesota really locked on beam," Penn State women's gymnastics coach Steve Shephard said. "Corissa Pirkl was the one girl I thought would stick it and she fell. It was very disappointing and it set the tone for the rest of the rotation."

Despite placing third, two Lions stood out on Saturday. Pirkl really stepped it up. In a five-way tie for first place, she took home the title in vault with a score of 9.8 and tied her career high. Freshman Katie Perret won the title on the uneven bars, scoring 9.9. She also had the highest score for the Lions on beam, posting a 9.725.

Senior Meredith Hoover and sophomore Lindsay Borkan did compete despite ankle injuries.

Hoover scored a 9.625 on bars and Borkan posted a 9.75. She also competed on the beam and scored a 9.55.

"Hoover competed on bars only and that certainly affected the team and it was tough," Shephard said. "But I think everyone else stepped up [and did] the best they could. It wasn't from lack of effort, lack of dedication, lack of commitment."

After the meet, four of the Lions were given the honor of making the All-Big Ten team. Seniors Lisa Clark and Hoover made the first team for a second year in a row and Jennifer Orlando made it for the first time. Sophomore Aslynn Satterfield made the second team.

"It's voted on by all the coaching staffs of the other institutions. It speaks highly of our program. We are very proud of them," Shephard said.

Junior Stephanie Sullivan was chosen by Shephard to be in contention for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. He spoke very highly of her and her commitment to Penn State.

"I just feel like Steph Sullivan is an outstanding individual in the gym, outside the gym and community service," Shephard said. "She is an exceptional person."

The Lions now have two weeks to regroup and tune up before regionals. They are not sure of where they will have to travel to and will find out today. They hope that this meet will be more of a learning experience and will help them in the end.

"We are trying to use it as a learning experience and do what we have to do in practice," Shephard said. "It might be a good thing in the long run."