LINCOLN, NEB. –  Rutgers gymnastics defeated Nebraska in its first road meet of the year on Sunday afternoon in Lincoln. The Scarlet Knights posted the second-highest beam score in program history to top the Cornhuskers, 194.025-193.800. It also marked the first conference win over Nebraska for RU since joining the Big Ten. 
 
At least one Scarlet Knight finished in the top 3 of all events, including senior Belle Huang and sophomore Hannah Joyner finishing first and second, respectively, in the all-around. Joyner claimed the top spot on vault, while Huang finished first on floor to round out the event titles.
 

BARS

Rutgers began the meet on bars, as senior captain Emily Drauss led the Scarlet Knights off strong with a season-high 9.800, coming in third in the event. Joyner added a 9.725 performance to contribute to a season-high team score of 48.225.
 

Senior captain Emily Drauss leads us off with a 9.800 on bars to open our meet strong at Nebraska ‼️ pic.twitter.com/PR01O8yUMA

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) February 7, 2021

 

VAULT

In the next rotation, Joyner matched her career-high with a 9.850 on vault, placing first in the event. Huang posted a 9.800 to finish third, while freshman Calah Newman registered a 9.725 to push RU to another season-high team score of 48.725.
 

Sophomore Hannah Joyner matches her career-high on vault with a 9.850 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/t3Es46gSUP

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) February 7, 2021

 

FLOOR

Moving to the third rotation, Huang recorded a team-high 9.825 to anchor the Scarlet Knights on floor. 
 

Senior captain Belle Huang with a beautiful routine on floor, posting a 9.825 for #RUGYM‼️ pic.twitter.com/VRzDAFsxtG

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) February 7, 2021

 

BEAM

Rutgers closed out the meet with a statement on beam. All Scarlet Knights in the lineup posted a score over a 9.725, registering the program's second highest team score in history with a 49.275. Joyner and Huang went back-to-back with 9.900s to anchor the event, finishing in a tie for second and lifting RU to victory.
 
Junior Kiera Doherty-Herwitz followed with a career-high of 9.875, while freshman Stephanie Zannella added a career-best of her own at 9.825. Sophomore Jenna Ferguson recorded a 9.775, as Newman rounded out the event competitors with a 9.725.
 

Back-to-back 9.9s for the BEAM QUEENS 👑 Hannah Joyner and 👑 Belle Huang to close out the meet for #RUGYM‼️ pic.twitter.com/xtHUzNF71X

— Rutgers Gymnastics (@RUGymnastics) February 8, 2021

 

ALL-AROUND

Huang topped the all-around competitors with a score of 39.150 followed by Joyner in second with a 39.100.
 

KNIGHT NOTES

• Rutgers recorded season-high team scores on vault (48.225), bars (48.725) and beam (49.275).
• The Scarlet Knights recorded the second-highest team score on beam with a 49.275. The program record stands at 49.325 set in 2004, while the third-best score was set last season at 49.250.
• RU picked up its first Big Ten win over Nebraska since joining the league in 2014-15. 
• Sophomore Hannah Joyner posted a 9.900 on beam, marking the eighth time in her career that she has posted a 9.900 or higher in the event.
• Sophomore Jordyn Zieden-Weber made her collegiate debut, competing on bars for RU.
• Freshman Emily Leese made her collegiate debut, competing on vault for the Scarlet Knights.
• Eight Scarlet Knight freshmen have made their debuts in lineups so far this season.

 

UP NEXT

Rutgers is back at the RAC for a Valentine's Day meet with Ohio State on Sunday, Feb. 14. Meet time is set for 1 p.m. ET.   

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