Feb. 4, 2006
Complete Results
DENVER - The University of Denver gymnastics team posted season-highs on three of the four events and three gymnasts set personal best scores as the 16th-ranked Pioneers posted their best team score in nearly two years in a 196.150 - 176.500 win over Air Force Saturday night in front of 1,224 fans in Hamilton Gymnasium. The Pioneers have won four consecutive meets and improved to 8-3 on the season.
Pioneer gymnasts won all four events and junior Heather Huffaker (DeSoto, Texas) won her fourth all-around title of the season with a score of 39.375. Freshman Nikki Brown (Louisville, Ky.) set career-high scores on uneven bars and balance beam and Sasha Sullivan (Glen Allen, Va.) and Jessica Lopez (Caracas, Venezuela) also posted career-highs as the Pioneers defeated Air Force for the 36th straight time.
The Pioneers began the meet on vault and Huffaker won her second title of the season with a 9.85. Sullivan was second with a career-high 9.8 and freshman Liz Meals (Gibsonia, Pa.) tied her career-best with a 9.775 in finishing third.
The Pioneers had one of the best nights in recent memory on uneven bars, as the team scored a 49.150 on the event and posted four scores of 9.825 or higher. Leading the way was sophomore Courtney Butler (Naperville, Ill.), who won her team-leading third bars title of the season with a career-high tying 9.9. Finishing in a two-way tie for second was Brown, who posted a career-high 9.85 and finished tied with junior Katie Andrews (Crawfordsville, Ind.). Huffaker also tied her career-best with a 9.825 to finish alone in fourth place.
On balance beam, the Pioneers were very solid, posting a season-high 49.025 and grabbing each of the top five spots. Brown led the way in winning her fourth balance beam title of the season with a career-high 9.875, just edging out another career-best, Lopez's 9.85. Huffaker finished third with a 9.825.
The Pioneers also posted a season-high score on floor exercise, earning a 49.075 with four scores of at least 9.8. Huffaker won her second consecutive floor exercise title with a 9.875 and Sullivan finished second with a 9.85. Lopez and junior Casey Dobyns (Woodinville, Wash.) were tied for third with scores of 9.8.
DU is next in action this Friday, Feb. 10 when it travels to take on Iowa at 6 p.m. MST.
