EAST LANSING, Mich. – Led by a career-high 9.900 on floor exercise by junior Jenna Rizkalla, Rutgers gymnastics ended Saturday's quad meet at Michigan State with its two best rotations of the early season to total a 194.225. The Scarlet Knights tied for the ninth-best mark in program history on floor at 49.150 before leaping to a 48.925 on vault, improving the team score once again.
 
The Spartans placed first at 195.525 inside Jenison Field House, while Eastern Michigan (194.950), RU and Pittsburgh (193.125) followed.
 
"I thought we showed a lot of character and heart tonight," head coach Louis Levine said. "The meet didn't start the way we wanted it to, but we fought through that and finished it with great gymnastics on the last two events, including our first 9.9 of the season."
 
Rizkalla, who accumulated six previous scores of at least 9.800 on floor, earned the first 9.900 of the season for the Scarlet Knights. It was also the best output from any of the 23 competitors in the quad meet. Seniors Libby Groden and Makenzey Shank both followed with a 9.850 in the leading rotation, as Shank increased her personal best for the second-straight week. In addition, the Scarlet Knights received contributions from freshmen Belle Huang (9.800) and Toni Williams (9.750) to round out the score. The 49.150 was also the best floor number since bringing in a 49.200 on March 6, 2016.
 
The momentum continued in the final event of the night with a 48.925 run on vault. Freshman Sophia Atienza sparked the action at 9.825 for the best vault for Rutgers thus far. That was matched shortly after by junior Michelle Amoresano. Williams debuted at 9.775, with Huang equaling. Groden also factored in at 9.725.
 
The Scarlet Knights started on uneven bars and were paced by a pair of 9.700 scores from sophomore Shannon Farrell and Shank. The team collected a 47.875 and moved up from there.
 
Balance beam saw Groden rack up a 9.800 for her best performance of the meet. She was backed up by Farrell, who improved to a 9.725, and sophomore Kaitlyn Hall at 9.700. The Scarlet Knights had a 48.275.
 
Groden finished second all-around at 38.800 to continue consistency in the range.
 
After consecutive road weekends, RU will return to the Livingston Gym next Saturday to host Ohio State, West Chester and Wisconsin-Whitewater. The meet, which will start a 7 p.m., was declared a sellout, but student passes still remain.
 
TOTAL SCORE: 194.225
VAULT: 48.925
UNEVEN BARS: 47.875
BALANCE BEAM: 48.275
FLOOR EXERCISE: 49.150
 
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