Michigan
Georgia
Weekly Release #7: at Georgia
2/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Upcoming Schedule
Meet #7:Â No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Georgia
Saturday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m., Athens, Ga., Stegemen Coliseum
Series:Â Georgia leads 9-0
Meet #8:Â No. 3 Michigan vs. Maryland
Saturday, Feb. 26, 4 p.m., Ann Arbor, Mich., Cliff Keen Arena
Series:Â Maryland leads 1-0
Michigan and Georgia at It Again
The Wolverines and Bulldogs, who battled down to the wire at the 1999 NCAA Championships before Georgia edged the runner-up Wolverines for the national title, face each other for the third time this season and the second time in eight days when they do battle on Saturday, Feb. 19 (7:30 p.m.) in Athens, Ga. The Bulldogs have edged the Wolverines twice this season, including a 196.725-195.700 win on Feb. 11 at Crisler Arena. Michigan and Georgia's first meeting this season came at the Super Six Challenge (Jan. 8) in Athens, Ga., which was the season opener for both teams. Michigan led Georgia throughout that meet before the Wolverines struggled to a 48.075 on the balance beam in the last rotation and Georgia managed a tight victory (195.400-194.925) over the Maize and Blue.
About Georgia ...
Georgia is 11-1 (4-1 SEC) and ranked No. 2 in the nation ... Georgia's only loss this season came to No. 1 Alabama (195.750-195.400) at the Super Six Challenge (Jan. 8) ... Georgia's best team score this season is 196.725, which was earned in one of its wins over Michigan (Feb. 11) ... Through Feb. 8, Georgia is No. 1 in the nation on the vault with an average of 49.192 ... Junior Kristi Lichey is the second-ranked all-around gymnast in the country with an all-around average of 39.538 ... Georgia on the web: www.georgiadogs.com
Michigan's Four-Meet Win Streak Snapped by Georgia
Michigan entered its dual meet vs. Georgia on Friday, Feb. 11, as perhaps the hottest team in the nation. Although the Wolverines were ranked third in the last GymInfo ranking, they owned the highest score in the country to date of 197.500, which was attained in a win over Kentucky (Jan. 28). After Michigan exploded out of the gate vs. Georgia with a 49.350 on the vault, the Maize and Blue were outscored on the final three apparatus en route to its third loss of the season (196.725-195.700) and second against Georgia.
Knaeble Shines on Bars
Michigan junior Bridget Knaeble (New Hope, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) has been one of Michigan's strongest competitors on the uneven bars in her first two seasons as a Wolverine and this season has proved no different. Knaeble matched her personal season best of 9.900 to tie for first on that event vs. Georgia (Feb. 11). Knaeble, who was a 1998 second team All-American on the uneven bars, now owns Michigan's top average on the uneven bars this season (9.846).
Michigan's Vault Lineup Rounding into Form
Michigan, which struggled on the vault to start the season and did not score a 49.000 or better on that event until the fourth meet of the season, has now hit its stride on that event and claimed its place as one of the nation's top vaulting teams. The Wolverines entered their meet vs. Georgia (Feb. 11) with the third-best vault average (48.920) in the nation, and after a season-best 49.350 performance, Michigan has bumped its vault average up to 48.991. The Wolverines have now recorded a team vault score of 49.300 or better in two of their last three meets, and their 49.350 vault score vs. Georgia is tied for the second best by any team in the nation heading into last weekend's competition. Michigan has recorded the top team score on the vault in five consecutive meets:
| 48.575-48.150 | at Minnesota |
| 48.900-48.100 | vs. Michigan State |
| 49.300-48.725 | vs. Kentucky |
| 49.150-48.700 | at State of Michigan Classic |
| 49.350-49.300 | vs. Georgia |
Michigan No Longer Perfect at Home
After three straight home wins to end the 1999 campaign and winning its first two home meets of this season, Michigan had registered five straight home wins in four meets. However, Georgia snapped that streak with a 196.725-195.700 win over Michigan in front of 2,388 fans at Crisler Arena (Feb. 11). Michigan's score of 195.700 vs. Georgia was its lowest in a home meet this season. Michigan's home results in 2000:
| 1/20 | #20 Michigan State | W | 196.725-192.850 |
| 1/28 | #17 Kentucky | W | 197.500-192.050 |
| 2/11 | #2 Georgia | L | 195.700-196.725 |
Cain Vaults Past the Field
Not only did Michigan's vault lineup produce the top team score of the season vs. Georgia (Feb. 11), the Wolverines also received their top individual score of the campaign when Sarah Cain (Grand Island, Neb./Grand Island HS) received a 9.975. Cain's score of 9.975 is tied for the second best in the country according to the rankings prior to last weekend's action. In addition, Cain's vault mark of 9.975 is the highest by a Wolverine on any event this season.
Senior Impressive in Loss to Georgia
Despite Michigan's loss to Georgia (Feb. 11), junior Karina Senior (Markham, Ont./Milliken Mills HS) delivered one of her best efforts of the season. Senior finished among the top two on the floor exercise for the fifth straight meet with a score of 9.875, which tied her for second place. Senior also matched her season best on the balance beam (9.825) and placed among the top five on that event for the third time this season. But possibly Senior's most encouraging performance of the meet was her vault, which she nailed for a career-best 9.825. Amazingly Senior has set or matched a career high on the vault in all six of Michigan's meets in 2000. Here is a rundown of Senior's season on the vault:
| 9.650 | at Super Six Challenge |
| 9.650 | at Minnesota |
| 9.675 | vs. Michigan State |
| 9.750 | vs. Kentucky |
| 9.775 | at State of Michigan Classic |
| 9.825 | vs. Georgia |
Other Career Bests
In addition to Karina Senior's career-best 9.825 on the vault, two other Wolverines recorded career bests vs. Georgia (Feb. 11). Freshman Janessa Grieco (Mahopac, N.Y./Carmel HS), who owns one of Michigan's top five averages on three different events, delivered a career-high 9.850 on the vault. Also nailing a career best vs. Georgia was sophomore Melissa Peterson (Shawnee, Kan./Shawnee Mission West HS), who tied for second on the floor exercise with a mark of 9.875.
Solid Sophomore Michigan sophomore Jodie Rosenberg (West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield HS) has evolved into one of Michigan's most consistent performers on the floor exercise. Rosenberg nailed a 9.850 vs. Georgia (Feb. 11), giving her a 9.800 or better on the floor exercise for the fourth straight meet and the fifth time in six meets this season. Rosenberg's consistency has paid off with the second-best average (9.825) in Michigan's floor lineup this season, behind Karina Senior.
Michigan Looks for First Win Over Georgia
The Wolverines face Georgia for the 11th time in the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 19 (7:30 p.m.) at Athens, Ga., and the Maize and Blue will be looking for its first win over the Bulldogs.
• Michigan Series vs. Georgia
| Year | W/L | Score | Site |
| 2000 | L | 195.700-196.725 | H |
| 2000 | L | 194.925-195.400 | A |
| 1999 | L | 195.400-197.800 | H |
| 1999 | L | 196.375-197.200 | A |
| 1998 | L | 196.250-196.950 | H |
| 1998 | L | 194.150-196.950 | A |
| 1997 | L | 196.225-198.475 | A |
| 1996 | L | 196.450-196.850 | H |
| 1995 | L | 196.450-197.300 | A |
| 1992 | L | 189.300-196.000 | A |
Plocki Earns 200th Win
Michigan head coach Bev Plocki, now in her 11th season at the helm of Michigan women's gymnastics, earned her 200th career win as the Wolverines went 4-0 at the State of Michigan Classic (Feb. 6). Plocki inherited a Michigan program which had more than 15 wins in a season only once in its first 14 years of existence dating back to 1976. Since Plocki took over in 1990, the Wolverines have averaged more than 19 wins a season and have 20 wins or more on six occasions under her direction.
Cain Moving Up the Charts
Sarah Cain's eight All-America citations ties her for third on Michigan's all-time list with Heather Kabnick (1995-98). Wendy Marshall (1993-96) is second on the list with 10 All-America honors, while Beth Wymer (1992-95) heads the list with 14 All-America honors earned.
Tri-Captains
The 2000 University of Michigan women's gymnastics team has tri-captains leading the squad. Senior Sarah Cain is joined by juniors Bridget Knaeble and Brianne Fuller (W. Bowdoin, Maine/Mount Ararat HS). Cain was a tri-captain in 1999 as a junior as well.
GymInfo Top 25 (2/8/2000)
RANK, TEAM AVERAGE 1. Alabama 196.283 2. Georgia 196.192 3. MICHIGAN 196.155 4. Utah 196.085 5. UCLA 195.980 6. Louisiana State 194.980 7. Nebraska 194.865 8. Iowa State 194.363 9. Penn State 194.350 10. Stanford 194.081 11. Denver 193.945 12. West Virginia 193.906 13. Maryland 193.746 14. Brigham Young 193.706 15. Washington 193.563 16. Arizona State 193.535 17. Minnesota 193.500 18. New Hampshire 193.475 19. North Carolina State 193.419 20. Oklahoma 193.406 21. Ball State 193.220 22. Florida 193.090 23. Cal State-Fullerton 193.040 24. Arizona 193.025 25. Towson 192.996
Tracking Michigan in the Rankings
Preseason 7th Jan. 11 3rd Jan. 18 6th Jan. 25 3rd Feb. 1 2nd Feb. 8 3rd
Players Mentioned
