The USAG Dismount: Week 3

Featuring Lindenwood, Northern Illinois and SEMO in Nashville.

Recap

The Big Storyline: Lindenwood made Division II proud this weekend, beating DI Northern Illinois by almost a point and losing to DI SEMO by only 0.050, which corresponds to about half a step. SEMO was the most consistent team across the four apparatuses, with four solid scores in the 48s while Lindenwood struggled on bars but posted an impressive 49.150 on vault. By comparison, UCLA posted a 49.200 in its season opener on vault this weekend. The Nittany Lions’ vault rotation was topped by Courtney Mitchell’s huge 9.900 for a stuck Yurchenko half. SEMO sophomore Dahlia Solorzano-Caruso impressed with a 39.050 in the all around, which included a 9.850 on vault and a 9.825 on floor, while sophomore Jolie Miller posted a 9.800 on bars for the second consecutive week. Northern Illinois struggled quite a bit on bars but posted the highest score of the day on beam, topped by Mia Lord’s 9.800. Natalie Hamp posted a 9.825 on bars for a routine that included a blind full to double layout dismount.

Implications: With more teams competing this week and many upping their game, both Lindenwood and SEMO dropped in the rankings despite posting higher scores than last week, with Lindenwood dropping from No. 30 to No. 35 and SEMO from No. 35 to No. 43. The Lions remain the top DII team in the country, as well as the top team in the MIC while SEMO stations stably at No. 3 in the conference behind Lindenwood and Texas Woman’s, which did not compete this week. In its season debut, Northern Illinois started at No. 37 and in third place in the MAC behind Kent State and Eastern Michigan.

Records: Courtney Mitchell’s 9.900 on vault was a career high for the Lindenwood senior.

Meet canceled as of Jan. 23 due to COVID protocols.

The Big Storyline: Air Force improved by close to two points from its opening score. The return of all arounder Daija Stevenson, who didn’t compete week one, was key for Air Force’s depth and she contributed the team’s highest score on vault.

Implications: Air Force remains at the bottom of the USAG rankings but is no longer the lowest-ranking team in the country.