Michigan
Alabama
Wolverines Come Up Short Against No. 5 Crimson Tide
3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team came out on the wrong end of a highly competitive meet Friday (March 12), falling on Senior Night to the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide at Crisler Arena. The Wolverines performed well but could not surpass an outstanding performance by the visiting Tide in a 197.725-197.025 loss. Junior/Senior Elise Ray (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake HS) was second in two events and second in the all-around.
The Wolverines sprang into tonight's competition on the vault, putting together an event total of 49.100. Sophomore Becca Clauson (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham HS) led Michigan into action with a vault that came up a little short, netting a 9.725. Senior Christine Mantilia (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan HS) followed her down the runway, scoring a 9.800. Next up for Michigan, freshman Carol McNamara (Hastings, Minn./Hastings) performed an excellent vault that earned her a 9.850. Ray matched McNamara's 9.850, and sophomore Jenny Deiley (Dayton, Minn./Elk River HS) soared to a 9.875. Junior Lauren Mirkovich's (Burlingame, Calif./Notre Dame HS) 9.650 concluded the opening rotation for Michigan, but the Wolverines trailed 49.400-49.100 after a strong performance by Alabama on the uneven bars.
Junior Chelsea Kroll (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny HS) was first to swing on the uneven bars for Michigan, and she put forth a steady 9.850. Freshman Lindsey Bruck (Marietta, N.Y./Marcellus) stepped up next and received a 9.825 for her effort. Deiley followed, but when her dismount carried her nearly off the mat, she could do no better than a 9.775. Mirkovich flew to a 9.825, and senior Calli Ryals (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) performed a clean routine, with an all important stuck landing, that scored a much needed 9.925 for Michigan. Ray was similarly superb, anchoring the rotation with the Wolverines' second consecutive 9.925. Michigan tallied a solid event total of 49.350, but it was not enough to keep pace with an inspired Alabama performance on vault. After two rotations, the Maize and Blue trailed 99.000-98.450.
The Wolverines began the third rotation facing the daunting task of cutting into Alabama's lead. Kroll performed as a leader should, showing the way for the Michigan ladies with a 9.875. Bruck overcame a troubled mount to contribute a 9.825. Clauson encountered similar difficulties and likewise persevered to score another 9.825. Deiley's routine earned a 9.775, but Ray ended the rotation on a high note with a 9.925. Michigan's 49.225 failed to gain ground on the Crimson Tide as the deficit stood at 148.475-147.675.
The Wolverines came to the floor looking to right the ship after a tough rotation on the balance beam. Mantilia, in the final home floor exercise of her career, tumbled her way to a 9.800. Bruck added a powerful 9.900 to the cause, and Clauson matched with a stellar 9.900 of her own. Deiley danced to a graceful 9.875. Ray followed with a nice routine, also a 9.875. Ryals had an amazing routine going until a stumble on her final tumbling pass, but despite that small misstep, she displayed the dance skills that carried her throughout her illustrious career. Michigan's efforts were not enough, as their 49.350 left them on the short end of a 197.725-197.025 result.
The Wolverines travel to Minnesota and the Big Ten Championships on Saturday (March 20).
Final Results
| Team Scores | Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | Total |
| 1. Alabama | 49.600 | 49.400 | 49.250 | 49.475 | 197.725 |
| 2. MICHIGAN | 49.100 | 49.350 | 49.225 | 49.350 | 197.025 |
Event-By-Event U-M Individual Scores
ALL-AROUND Elise Ray 39.575 (2) Jenny Deiley 39.300 (4) VAULT Becca Clauson 9.725 Christine Mantilia 9.800 Carol McNamara 9.850 Elise Ray 9.850 Jenny Deiley 9.875 (t5) Lauren Mirkovich 9.650 UNEVEN BARS Chelsea Kroll 9.850 Lindsey Bruck 9.825 Jenny Deiley 9.775 Lauren Mirkovich 9.825 Calli Ryals 9.925 (t2) Elise Ray 9.925 (t2) BALANCE BEAM Chelsea Kroll 9.875 (3) Lindsey Bruck 9.825 Becca Clauson 9.825 Jenny Deiley 9.775 Calli Ryals 9.150 Elise Ray 9.925 (2) FLOOR EXERCISE Christine Mantilia 9.800 Lindsey Bruck 9.900 (t3) Becca Clauson 9.900 (t3) Jenny Deiley 9.875 (t5) Elise Ray 9.875 (t5) Calli Ryals 9.400 ( ) denotes place in the Top 5
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Bev Plocki
On the team's performance ... "I'm really pleased with our performance. Hopefully this will help us out during Big Tens and help us strive for where we want to be in a few weeks."
Senior Calli Ryals
On competing in her final home meet ... "It still hasn't hit me that this was my last home meet. Maybe it will hit me later tonight."
Contact: Jessica Steyers (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
