Kent State University
Eastern Michigan
Kent State Gymnastics Travels to Eastern Michigan Friday Night
2/9/2017 4:04:00 PM | Gymnastics
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In a battle between last season's Mid-American Conference gymnastics regular season and tournament champions, Kent State and Eastern Michigan will meet in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Friday at 7 p.m.
The Golden Flashes (2-5, 1-1 MAC) were chosen by the conference's seven head coaches as the MAC's preseason favorite after posting an undefeated conference season in 2016. The Eagles (5-2, 20 MAC) posted the second-highest score in program history to win the 2016 MAC Gymnastics Championships in Muncie, Indiana.
CHANGE OF VENUE
Due to Eastern Michigan's men's basketball game being bumped up to Friday evening for a national television broadcast, the meet has been moved to Bowen Fieldhouse on EMU's campus.
LAST TIME OUT
Kent State lost to No. 25 West Virginia, 195.950-194.875, during the annual Beauty and the Beast meet at the M.A.C. Center.
The Golden Flashes scored a season-best 48.850 on vault and also improved upon their season average on floor (48.975) and beam (48.650).
Jordan Hardison matched her career-high by scoring a 9.825 on vault to tie for third place. Brooke Timko tied for fifth with a 9.800 in her first vault competition of the season. Kennedy Plude scored a 9.775 to finish in a tie for sixth and match her career-high.
On floor, Skyelee Lamano took second with a 9.850, which was the Flashes' best finish of the meet. Rachel Stypinski tied for third right behind her with a 9.825.
Ali Marrero and Sarah Lippowitsch tied for third on beam with a 9.775. It was a career-high for Lippowitsch on the event.
Timko led the way on with a 9.835 on bars, to finish third. Michaela Romito was right behind her with a 9.800 to tie for third.
SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
The Eagles (5-2) are 30th in the country with an all-around average of 194.530. Last weekend's 194.550-193.325 victory over UIC was Eastern Michigan's third straight dual win after starting the season with a loss to #21 Kentucky and taking second in a quad meet with Illinois, Rutgers and UIC.
Eastern Michigan boasts a strong bars rotation that ranks 8th nationally with an average of 49.110 and has score higher than 49.000 in four straight meets. The lineup features four gymnasts among the conference's top 10 on the apparatus and is led by 2016 MAC bars champion Kendall Valentin. With an average of 9.875, Valentin ranks 11th in the country. Catie Conrad's 9.855 average is second in the MAC and 26th nationally. Lacey Rubin (9.825) and Natalie Gervais (9.790) are 5th and 10th in the conference, respectively.
SERIES HISTORY
Kent State is 61-22 all-time vs. Eastern Michigan. The Golden Flashes have defeated the Eagles in 11 of the past 12 regular season meetings. Last year, the Flashes earned a decisive 195.025-194.025 victory at the M.A.C. Center to give EMU its lone conference loss and clinch the MAC regular season championship. Rachel Stypinski went 3-for-3 with wins on bars, beam and floor. Skyelee Lamano, Jordan Hardison and Samantha Gordon placed behind Stypinski on floor to give Kent State the top 4 scores, while strong performances on beam from Ali Marrero and Nicolle Eastman allowed the Flashes to score 1.450 higher on the apparatus.
UP NEXT
Kent State returns to the M.A.C. Center for its annual Pink Meet against Central Michigan on Sunday, February 19 at 1 p.m.
FOLLOW THE FLASHES
Be sure to follow the Kent State gymnastics team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for news and updates about the squad. Live meet updates will be available through Twitter.
Players Mentioned
