DeZiel leads Huskers to home victory in home state

Last Saturday, sophomore Jessie DeZiel helped Nebraska women's gymnastics' team capture a road victory against Minnesota, 196.850-196.150, improving their record to 5-1 on the season.

So far this season, NU coach Dan Kendig has described DeZiel in two words: confident and talented. She proved her coach's words true this weekend.

Against the Gophers, DeZiel had a career day. She won three crown events and the all-around with a 39.60, the highest all-around team score since Emily Parsons' 39.65 performance in 2007.

Kendig said the Rogers, Minn., native, who had many family members in attendance, looked comfortable all day.

"That's the biggest thing," he said. "She's confident, comfortable and knows that she can go out there and hit. That's powerful."

The Huskers began the meet on bars and were led by a pair of career-high performances by sophomore Jamie Schleppenbach and junior Janelle Giblin.

After sophomore Emily Wong began the meet with a 9.800, Schleppenbach followed with a 9.775, which tied her career-best for the third time this season. Giblin then hit a 9.900 for the fifth time this season, assisting Nebraska to a 49.225-49.050 advantage to start the meet.

Senior Lora Evenstad, who also hit a 9.90, shared the crown title with Giblin.

But the record-breaking streak didn't end there for the No. 22 Huskers; it was just beginning.

The Cornhuskers carried their momentum into the vault event, where Kendig said they performed well in each performance.

"We got started by a great vault from (Desiré Stephens)," the coach said, "and with Lora (Evanstad) out from the lineup, everyone seemed to step up to the challenge and did a great job all the way through."

Stephens kicked off the event with a 9.825 and that was all the points her teammates would need as they saw their numbers only increase.

Following the freshman were junior Brittany Skinner and Wong who scored 9.850 and 9.925 respectively, before Schleppenbach's 9.90 performance.

Wong set a career-high with her score, and she wasn't the only one.

In the Husker's last three performances on vault, DeZiel and Giblin highlighted the event by nailing two 9.95 scores, both career-highs.

The two gymnasts helped their team finish with a 49.575, the sixth-highest score in school history.

"We have a good vault team and we're even better than what we did that night," Kendig added. "That's scary."

After two rotations, Nebraska led Minnesota, 98.800-98.000.

Next was floor, where the Husker women tallied a 49.000 score backed by freshmen Jennifer Lauer, who hit a career-tying 9.80, and DeZiel's score of 9.90.

The team finished its day on floor where DeZiel posted her second career-high on the day, a 9.90, carrying the team to a 49.050 score to finish the meet.

The first-year-gymnast ended the day winning event titles on vault, floor and beam.

On Monday, the Big Ten Conference announced that DeZiel was named Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Week along with Ohio State's Colleen Dean. It's the second time the freshman has been the conference gymnast of the week after earning her first award on Jan. 16.

She was also given the Big Ten Freshman of the Week award for the sixth consecutive week. She's been named the winner every week this season.

DeZiel said she maintains the same work ethic each week and tries not to let her honorary achievements get to her head.

"I've just tried to come (into practice) and hit my routines every week," she said. "Doing that just gives me more confidence for the next week."

The former Twin City Twisters club gymnast's last performance at the Sports Pavillion was in 2011, and said the familiarity and having loved ones support her Saturday made her feel at ease during the meet.

"At my club gym we usually did a meet there every year," she said. "It was really exciting being back in Minnesota and competing there now was a change. (I) just wanted to show everyone how I perform.

"Seeing all my family members that are from Minnesota there cheering me on, it felt like a home meet for me."

neduizu@dailynebraskan.com