Alright, we’re live here at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama! It’s go-time for the first round of NCAA regionals, and we’ve got a head-to-head, play-in style battle brewing between the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Clemson Tigers. Think of it as a high-stakes showdown where only one team will survive and advance.
This afternoon’s winner isn’t just getting bragging rights; it’s earning a coveted spot in the evening session for round two. That’s where things really get interesting, as they’ll be facing some serious competition in the form of powerhouse Florida, always-strong N.C. State, and the talented Oregon State Beavers. So, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both Rutgers and Clemson—this single meet is their ticket to mixing it up with some of the nation’s best tomorrow.
For Rutgers, this is a fantastic opportunity to make some noise on the national stage. It’ll be looking to come out strong and prove it belongs. Every tenth of a point is going to matter in this kind of head-to-head format, and they’ll need solid performances across all four events to secure that crucial victory.
Meanwhile, Clemson is eager to make its mark in the postseason. This play-in meet is its chance to show what it’s capable of and earn a spot alongside those top-ranked teams. You can bet it’ll be bringing its A-game, focusing on hitting clean routines and sticking its landings. This is a pressure cooker situation, and it’ll be fascinating to see which team can handle the intensity and execute when it counts the most. Get ready for what should be a thrilling start to the NCAA regionals!
Rotation 1: Clemson VT, Rutgers UB
Kuhl (CU): Yurchenko full, chest down slightly. 9.65
Uhlenberg (RU): Tkatchev to Pak, a little bend in the elbows on her Tkatchev grab. Nice swing. Piked her double layout down a little but clean routine overall. 9.65
Holman (CU): Fhs front pike half, solid. 9.75
Richards (RU): Pretty piked Jaeger to bail. Just a bit short on last handstand. Solid dismount, small step. 9.775
Minner (CU): Tucked Yurchenko 1.5, steps forward. 9.775
Smith (RU): Maloney to Pak, solid. Toe-on to handstand, slight feet form. Blind full to double back, almost gets the stick. 9.75
Walsh (CU): Yurchenko 1.5, almost sticks it. I love how she’s grown into this vault. 9.8
Schenke (RU): Nice and floaty piked Jaeger to open. Goes right into her bail, slight form on low bar. Blind full to double back, solid. 9.75
Jackson (CU): Yurchenko 1.5, a little too much sauce and steps off the mat. 9.625
Adrian (RU): Huge Tkatchev to bail, comes off on the bail. Gets right back up to finish with a pretty blind full to stuck double back. 8.925
Bryant (CU): Yurchenko full, a little soft in the elbows. Digs her toes in to fight for the stick and gets it.9.625
Balser (RU): Tkatchev to Pak, slight leg form in Tkatchev. Pretty swing throughout. Blind full to double back, almost get the stick. 9.75
After 1: Rutgers 48.675, Clemson 48.600
Both teams had a strong start, just a few landing issues here and there. Clemson had 4 out 6 vaults start at a 10.0. Rutgers recovered well after having a fall.
Rotation 2: Rutgers VT, Clemson UB
Chevaire (RU): Yurchenko full, small step backwards. 9.65
Berry (CU): I missed her routine while I was talking to Alabama’s AD…turns out I can’t multi-task. 9.775
Adrian (RU): Yurchenko half, fights for the stick. 9.725
Jackson (CU): Nice Jaeger to bail to open. Aggressive swing throughout. Full-twisting double back, small step. 9.725
Aird (RU): Yurchenko full, steps forward. 9.75
Rutherford (CU): Pretty Ray to bail. Nice handstands throughout. Huge double layout, almost gets the stick. 9.775
Pagliaro (RU): Huge Yurchenko full, almost sticks it. 9.725
Clark (CU): Nice piked Jaeger to bail. Great swings. Pretty double layout to finish. 9.825
Riley (RU): Yurchenko half, huge leg separation in the air. 9.725
Kuhl (CU): Tkatchev to bail, solid. Beautiful lines throughout. Sticks the double layout cold. 9.75
Dildy (RU): Solid Yurchenko full, small hop. 9.725
Bryant (CU): Huge Church to bail, comes off the first time but gets up and does it again. Blind full to double back, some foot form in the air but sticks it. 8.85
After 2: Rutgers 97.400, Clemson 97.325
Rotation 3: Clemson BB, Rutgers FX
H. Clark (CU): Front toss to bhs, nice control. Solid full turn. Switch leap to split jump, back leg was a little low. Ro 1.5, slight leg separation in the air. 9.75
Chevaire (RU): Huge double pike to open. I love this aggressive floor music blend. Front layout to double full, nice control. Switch half to split full, great amplitude. Ro bhs double back, solid landing. She should be happy with that one. 9.725
B. Clark (CU): Standing front tuck, covers up the balance check well. Bhs loso, nice control. Solid full turn. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, love her extension. Front 2.5, small step. 9.75
Jones (RU): Another huge opening double pike for the Scarlet Knights. Switch half to Popa, great height in her jumps. Front layout to Rudi, small foot shuffle. Front full to front layout, nice control. 9.775
Walsh (CU): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, she looks so steady up there. Cat leap to front toss, solid. Solid switch leap to tuck full. Ro 1.5, stuck.
Aird (RU): Three huge double pikes in a row, what a treat. Switch half to wolf full, fantastic control. Front full to front layout, pretty. Ro bhs double back, so high and so solid.
Church (CU): Bhs loso, ever so pretty. Switch leap split jump, great extension. Nicely controlled side aerial split jump. Solid full turn. Ro 1.5, small hop.
Adrian (RU): Front double full to front full, great control. Switch full to wolf full, I love the way she finished her wolf jump. Punch Rudi with a solid landing to close out her Usher-themed floor routine.
Kuhl (CU): Bhs bhs loso, fights to stay on. Switch leap to tuck 3/4, studders on the switch leap and breaks the connection. Does it again and looks solid. Nice full turn. Ro 1.5, stuck. She looked a little nervous on that one.
Goldsmith (RU): Huge front double full to open. Front full to front layout, great control. I love her funky mashup of songs for her floor music. Switch half to split half, nice height. Rudi to punch back layout to straddle jump, this was a fun pass.
McCright (CU): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, so smooth and steady. Beat jump to tuck full, slips and comes off the beam. Side aerial to split jump, small balance check. Side gainer full, stuck.
Dildy (RU): I LOVE her music wow. Opens with a huge double back. Switch side half to Popa, great amplitude. Solid ro bhs double pike. A fun Shushunova to end her dance with.
After 3: Rutgers 146.450, Clemson 146.125
Rotation 4: Rutgers BB, Clemson FX
Manifold (RU): Bhs loso, great lines in flight. Pretty side aerial. Great extension in her split jump to split 3/4. Solid full turn. Side aerial back 1.5, goes crooked on her takeoff but recovers well in the air. 9.7
Minner (CU): Pretty front double full to start. Tour jete full to a straight-bodied Shushunova, so fun to watch. Huge final pass with great control. 9.825
Adrian (RU): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, slightly off on her takeoff and comes off. Solid front toss. Switch leap to straddle half, slight balance check. Ro double full, steps forward. 9.1
Arnold (CU): Full-in, misses her punch a little but keeps it upright and strong. Great amplitude in her leaps. Ro bhs 2.5 to front tuck, great control. Clemson started off this rotation oh so strong. 9.8
Pagliaro (RU): Pretty switch leap to switch half. Bhs loso, slight balance check. Solid full turn. Nice lines throughout. Front gainer full off the side, small step. She’s such a pretty beam worker. 9.725
Holman (CU): Front layout to front double full, dances right out of it. Pretty lines in her leaps. Nice tuck jump full. Fhs to Rudi to back loso, nice control. The crowd was super into this routine! 9.85
Rains (RU): Bhs loso, fights to stay on but unfortunately loses the battle. Pretty full turn. Split jump to ring jump, she has such beautiful lines. Finishes strong with a stuck side gainer full.
Jackson (CU): Huge full-in to open. She brought the sass today for this routine, I love it. Front through to double back, great control. That might’ve been one of the best routines I’ve seen her do. 9.9
Riley (RU): Bhs loso, great control. Switch leap to straddle 1/4, pretty. Fights to stay on after her side aerial. Solid full turn. Bhs 1.5, stuck cold.
Clark (CU): The Clemson crowd is loud and ready for this one! Huge double layout, she’s always so explosive in her tumbling. Switch full to Popa, great amplitude. Front layout to front full to front tuck, nice height and control in her landing.
Dildy (RU): Front aerial to bhs, pretty. Her heel slips on her leap and she comes off. I hope she’s okay as she was seen rubbing her heel. Gets back up and finishes strong with a stuck dismount.
Walsh (CU): It appears they have scratched this routine as Clemson had already qualified to tomorrow’s session.
FINAL: Clemson 195.400, Rutgers 193.875
VT:
UB:
BB:
FX:
AA:
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Live blog by Jessica Brock
