March 11, 2007

Complete Results

DENVER - Senior Heather Huffaker (DeSoto, Texas) won three event titles and the all-around and the 14th-ranked University of Denver gymnastics team tied its second-best outing of the season on floor exercise as the Pioneers just slipped by No. 20 Illinois Sunday afternoon, 194.750 - 194.525 in front of 1,147 fans in Hamilton Gymnasium. The win keeps the Pioneers unbeaten at home this season and improves DU's record to 10-6 on the season.

Huffaker won three events in a single meet for the first time all season and captured her team-leading sixth all-around crown. Including her two wins last weekend at Ohio State, Huffaker has won five event titles and two all-arounds in the last two meets.

Huffaker got the Pioneers going on vault in the first rotation, leading the way with a 9.825 for her fifth title on that event this season. Right behind her in a tie for second place was fellow senior Casey Dobyns (Woodinville, Wash.), who scored a 9.8 to finish tied with Illinois' Michelle McGrady.

ON uneven bars, DU was right near its season average with a team score of 48.850. Leading the team for the first time all season was freshman Ellen McCarthy (Aurora, Ontario), who finished second with a 9.825, her second-best score this season. She was right behind Illinois' Sara Schmidt, who won with a 9.85. Sophomore Nikki Brown (Louisville, Ky.) was next for DU in a tie for third with a 9.8.

Huffaker was the lone brightspot for DU on beam, as she tied with the Fighting Illini's Nicole Cowart for tops in the meet with a 9.825 as Illinois had four of the top five finishers.

The Pioneers had one of their best performances of the season on floor exercise, posting a team score of 49.275 and taking four of the top five spots, including each of the top three. Huffaker led the way with a 9.9 for her first floor title of the season, finishing just ahead of senior Gretchen Goerlitz (Neenah, Wis.) and junior Sasha Sullivan (Glen Allen, Va.), who both were tied for second with scores of 9.875. Senior Katie Andrews (Crawfordsville, Ind.) finished fifth with a 9.825 and McCarthy tied her personal-best with a 9.8 to finish sixth.

The Pioneers host one of the most anticipated meets in school history this Friday, March 16 when DU holds its annual Fan Appreciation Night and welcomes in BYU and California at 7 p.m. The meet will also feature a visit from one of America's most decorated Olympians in Shannon Miller, a five-time Olympic Gold Medalist and a member of the 1996 Gold Medal winning team.