UCLA, LSU, And Nebraska Qualify To Super Six At 2018 NCAA Championships
UCLA, LSU, And Nebraska Qualify To Super Six At 2018 NCAA Championships
Read about the performances from the first semifinal at the 2018 NCAA Championships.
UCLA, LSU, and Nebraska are the first three teams to secure their spots in the Super Six finals after Semifinal 1 at the 2018 NCAA Championships. Coming in, LSU, UCLA, and Alabama were the top-ranked teams but Nebraska was able to slide past Alabama with a fantastic showing on every event.
UCLA Tops The Charts
Entering as the No. 3 as a team in the country, the Bruins showed why they deserved a spot in the Super Six.
With the classic Olympic order rotation, UCLA started on vault where they came out strong totaling a 49.1875, finishing with two Yurchenko one and a halfs by Felicia Hano and Pua Hall. All vaults scored above a 9.8 with three 9.85s from Anna Glenn, Pauline Tratz, and Kyla Ross.
On bars, the team built off of their first rotation, improving to a 49.375 with a gorgeous 9.95 set from Ross. Madison Kocian had an uncharacteristic mistake but pulled through for a 9.775, which they ended up getting to drop.
The Bruins carried their momentum over to beam, where they had a stellar rotation to total a huge 49.5375. The final three routines were incredible with Katelyn Ohashi's 9.925, Kyla Ross' 9.95, then Peng Peng Lee anchoring for a 9.9875.
The Bruins finished with a fantastic floor rotation scoring a 49.4625. Ohashi anchored with her crowd-favorite Michael Jackson routine and earned a big 9.9625.
LSU Moves On With Room To Improve
The No. 2-ranked LSU Tigers were fierce tonight fighting for every tenth. While they didn't have their best performance, they easily posted a 197.475 to make it through to finals.
The team started on beam, where they were tested from the start. Following three hit routines from Erin Macadaeg, Myia Hambrick, and Kennedi Edney, fourth-up freshman Christina Desiderio had a fall on her series. The Tigers were able to pull it back and finish with two excellent routines to drop Desiderio's score and finish with a 49.225 to take the lead after the first rotation.
On floor, the Tigers posted a big 49.4, led by Kennedi Edney's 9.9 then Myia Hambrick's 9.95. Lexie Priessman had a short landing on her double pike but looked OK as she finished her routine. The team looked like they were holding back just a little on their landings, possibly saving the big show for the Super Six.
The Tigers started off with some drama on vault when the lights flickered during first-up Finnegan's Yurchenko full. The NCAA officials allowed her to redo her vault at the end, and she stuck it and posted a 9.85. The rest of the team looked great and they scored a 49.35.
Finishing on bars, LSU easily secured their spot on the Super Six with a massive 49.5 team bars score. Edney had a 9.9375, Priessman a 9.9125, and Harold a 9.9.
Nebraska Upsets Alabama
The Huskers were strong and steady throughout the meet and, with a solid finish on vault, they secured their place in the final.
The team started on bars with a solid 49.0625, but it was their beam rotation that was crucial and helped shoot them past Alabama. The beam lineup posted a stellar 49.375, where all gymnasts scored were above a 9.8, but none broke into the 9.9s. Taylor Houchin and Grace Williams both posted 9.8875s.
They continued their momentum to floor, posting an excellent 49.3375. The team dropped Kynsee Roby's 9.3125 and their high came from Sienna Crouse with a 9.9.
The Huskers had a bye before vault so they knew exactly what they needed to pass Georgia and Alabama—above a 49.125. With a 49.2375, they finished third in the session.
Season Ends For Georgia, Alabama, & Arkansas
Georgia had an impressive showing at nationals, especially considering their rocky season. The team show resilience and grit, finishing with a respectable 196.6875. Sabrina Vega was the star of the Dogs after anchoring beam with a 9.875 to move Georgia past Alabama.
Alabama just couldn't hit the routines they needed in this fierce session, and they finished fifth with a 196.625, their high coming on floor with a 49.25.
Arkansas was solid throughout the meet but finished sixth with a 196.425.
The individual event and all-around champions will be crowned following Semifinal 2!