DeKALB, Illinois – The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team finished off a double meet weekend with its highest overall score of the year, led by a stellar performance from the Huskie beam team, which posted the fourth highest team score school history.
 
Led by a stellar performance from the Northern Illinois University beam team, the Huskie gymnastics team finished off a double meet weekend with its highest overall score of the year in a Tri-Meet win Sunday afternoon at the NIU Convocation Center.
 
"We had a great day on the back end of the double weekend which is great to see," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale. "We ran out of gas a little bit at the end on floor or this could have been a 196, but overall, I'm super proud.  Hopefully from this, we see where we can go because we left some tenths out there. We're still waiting to hit on all cylinders. I know they want to do it. 
 
NIU posted an overall score of 195.500 to defeat Illinois State (194.350) and Winona State (184.700) and improve its record to 4-2 on the season. The Huskies recorded 10 scores of 9.800 or higher, including five on balance beam, and had 19 of 24 routines earn 9.700 or above.
 
The Huskies' last five gymnasts on balance beam each scored a 9.800 or higher as the Huskies swept the top five places in the meet. Anchor Alyssa Al-Ashari closed out the rotation with a 9.925, the highest score by a NIU gymnast on any event this year, to tie her career high and earn the win. Sophomore Ellery Werner scored a season high 9.850 to finish second, while Olivia Lynd recorded a career high 9.825 and tied teammate Brookelyn Sears for third.
 
"Beam was even better today than on Friday [when they scored 49.000]," Morreale said. "In a double weekend, that's great to see. [Associate head coach] Nita Teague does an amazing job with the beam squad. They're always prepared, it's just a matter of settling in and getting it done. Beam is that event if you can block everything out around you, it makes it that much easier. That group right now is doing a great job of that."
 
NIU opened the meet on vault where all-arounder Isabella Sissi's 9.825 tied for second and matched her career best vault. Isabelle West and freshman Kiera O'Shea backed her up with scores of 9.775 and 9.750, respectively.
 
Sissi added a 9.725 on bars, tying her career high, had a 9.800 on beam and finished off her day with a 9.725 to total a 39.075 all-around score, her third 39-plus all-around of the season.
 
Natalie Hamp and Al-Ashari finished first and second on uneven parallel bars with Hamp totaling a 9.900 mark for the third time this season and the second time on the weekend. Al-Ashari was second with a 9.825. Sophomore Emmalise Nock finished off the meet for NIU with a 9.850 on floor exercise to lead the floor squad to a 48.700 score. Lynd led off floor with a personal best 9.775 and Ciara Ryan scored a 9.800.  
 
"I feel like Olivia [Lynd] on floor and beam stepped up, two career highs for her," Morreale said. "Isabella Sissi had another solid all-around, 39-plus is huge.  If Natalie [Hamp] doesn't' go 9.9, it's not a good day which is the sad truth of someone like her, it's the same with Alyssa on beam. 'Naturals' is one way to put it, but the fact is they are really good at what they do because of how they train. So those veterans are leading us and then we have Ellery Werner, Izzy West and some others who are coming in and getting it done, so it's awesome to see the performances from up and down the line-up."
   
NIU is in action at home again next Saturday when the gymnastics and NIU wrestling teams come together to host the Beauty and the Beast Meet in the NIU Convocation Center. Gymnastics will take on MAC foe Kent State and Simpson, while wrestling will face Buffalo. All the action takes place simultaneously on the arena floor beginning at 1 p.m. Admission is free.
 
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