If given the choice, the Penn State women's gymnastics team may opt to have the Big Ten Network at all its home meets.
The No. 22 Nittany Lions racked up a season-high 195.725 points to finish second in a quad-meet Friday night at Rec Hall. It was perhaps the Lions' best showing against a quality opponent since pushing then-No. 6 Michigan to the brink back on Jan. 19. -- the last time the Big Ten Network came to Rec Hall.
No. 14 Nebraska won the competition with a 196.000, with Maryland finishing third (192.675) and Rutgers last (189.475).
"As a team, we definitely have made improvements, and we're peaking at the right time," sophomore Brandi Personett said. "This meet was definitely a big step toward what we're looking for."
Injuries and minor point deductions have caused the Lions to drop a number of meets this season. Friday, the injury bug worked its way out of the Lions' system with the return of Allie Southard and Lindsey Montross. Southard performed a solid exhibition routine on the balance beam, her first action since breaking her back over the summer. Montross saw action on the uneven bars since injuring her patella for the third time in January.
The Lions had no falls on balance beam and stuck most of their landings on vault and bars. The only obvious mishaps were a Rosie Smith fall on bars and Montross struggling to swing herself over the high bar on one of her passes. Still, Smith's score was not one among Penn State's top 5, so it didn't count toward the team points.
The Lions also improved on the beam, statistically their worst event. However, it was their top-scoring event (49.050) on Friday. Each starter scored 9.750 or higher, led by Personett's 9.900.
"It was bound to happen sooner or later," Penn State coach Steve Shephard said. "It was what we've been striving for. Their ability in practice has been there consistently. It's just been a question of doing it on a competitive level."
Personett had one of the best performances of her career, registering a career-high 39.525 all-around score, including three scores of 9.900. Personett dazzled the crowd, earning roars of applause after each event. Personett fed off the energy, often going up to the next performer to offer words of encouragement.
"Personally it was a good meet for me," Personett said. "Everything clicked, I got my confidence up."
Shephard said Personett was capable of that kind of meet all year long, but she's held herself back by not attacking her routines. Instead, she was approaching each routine with a mentality not to fail instead of embracing the opportunity to be great.
And for the Lions to be great in the coming weeks at the Big Ten championships and NCAA regionals, they will need Personett to be on the attack and have her energy rub off on the rest of the team.
"It's a confidence booster for the team, their peaking at the right time," Shephard said. "I feel like they have a high level of confidence going into the Big Ten championships."
