We’re live from one of my favorite venues, Littlejohn Coliseum, where Clemson will host the Pittsburgh Panthers for the Tigers’ home opener! These two teams faced off just two weeks ago in Pittsburgh, with Clemson securing their first conference win of the season.
Pittsburgh enters tonight’s meet as the underdog in the ACC, but they’ve shown strength, ranking in the top 30 on both bars and floor. Last weekend, the Panthers hosted Stanford, and while they ultimately fell to the Cardinals, they claimed vault and floor titles thanks to standout routines from Elizabeth Cesarone and Jah’Liyah Bedminster. Keep an eye out for key routines from Jordyn Ewing, Emily Todd, and Hallie Copperwheat, who have been consistent contributors for Pitt.
The Tigers, meanwhile, are coming off a season-high score of 196.225 from their meet at Cal. Senior Brie Clark made history by earning Clemson’s first 9.9 of the season on floor, tying for the event title. Ranked in the top 25 on vault, bars, and beam, Clemson is poised to put up a strong fight tonight.
It’s going to be a packed house tonight, with Tiger fans selling out Littlejohn Coliseum for this highly anticipated home opener. With full stands and a repeat ACC showdown, this is a meet you won’t want to miss!
Rotation 1: Clemson VT, Pittsburgh UB
Brown (CU): Yurchenko full, solid, just a small step. 9.825
Duke (Pitt): Maloney to Pak, pretty. Nice pirouette, short on the back half. Blind full to double back, stuck. 9.725
Kuhl (CU): Yurchenko full, large step back. 9.725
Ewing (Pitt): Huge piked Tkatchev. Over a little on the handstand after. Nice bail to handstand. Pretty blind full to double back, almost gets the stick. 9.725
Walsh (CU): Yurchenko 1.5, just slightly underrotated but pretty. 9.7
Bedminster (Pitt): Toe hand to Maloney, goes over a bit on the handstand. Handstand stepout to bail to handstand with a little twist in the trunk. Pretty double layout, small step forward. 9.575
Minner (CU): Tucked Yurchenko full, looks like she might of under-anticipated the landing a bit. 9.775
Chiu (Pitt): Nice Jaeger to open, looked a little close on the catch. Pretty bail to handstand. Blind full to double back, looked a little underrotated but solid. 9.65
Jackson (CU): Yurchenko 1.5, steps forward. 9.7
Pratt (Pitt): Beautiful Ray to bail to handstand. Nice swing throughout. 9.775
Holman (CU): Yurchenko full, steps to the side. 9.85
Todd (Pitt): Beautiful Jaeger. Great swing. Full-twisting double back, stuck. 9.85
After 1: Clemson 48.875, Pittsburgh 48.725
Both teams had some small mistakes here and there but I love how aggressive each team has been. Clemson pulling out the 10.0 vaults and Pitt’s creativity in bar routine construction was fun to watch. Onto the next!
Rotation 2: Pittsburgh VT, Clemson UB
Pratt (Pitt): Yurchenko full, a little soft in the knees. 9.625
Lippeat (CU): Nice toe-on Tkachev to bail. Pretty blind full to stuck double back. The crowd loved it. 9.85
Giunta (Pitt): Yurchenko full, looked a little loose in the air. 9.775
Berry (CU): Maloney to Pak, pretty. Nice pirouette. Huge stuck double layout dismount. The sticks are contagious and the student section is going crazy for them. 9.775
Pileggi (Pitt): Pretty Yurchenko full, lost her footing a little and almost steps off the mat. 9.525
Jackson (CU): Nice Tkatchev to bail. Huge full-twisting double back, takes the smallest of slides with her left foot. 9.775
Duke (Pitt): Pretty Yurchenko full, almost gets the stick. 9.8
Clark (CU): Pretty piked Tkatchev to Pak, slips off the bar on the Pak catch. Recovers well with a gorgeous stuck double layout dismount. 9.125
Bedminster (Pitt): Solid Yurchenko full. 9.825
Wells (CU): Nice Jaeger to immediate bail. Great aggressive swing. Full-twisting double back, stuck cold. The sticks are back! 9.8
Cesarone (Pitt): Pretty Yurchenko full, stuck. 9.825
Kuhl (CU): It’s so loud in here waiting for her to salute wow. Super close on the catch from her Ray. Tries to connect the bail but loses her grip. Recovers well with a stuck double layout. 8.975
After 2: Pittsburgh 97.575, Clemson 97.200
This was a rough rotation for both teams. Unfortunately, Clemson having to count a fall allowed Pitt to take the lead, and ended Clemson’s streak of not having to count a fall. Pitt just had some rocky or timid landings on vault, which resulted in some lower than usual scores.
Rotation 3: Clemson BB, Pittsburgh FX
Lippeat (CU): Front aerial bhs swing down, pretty. Split leap split half, small balance check. Side aerial beat jump, nice rhythm. Solid full turn. Front gainer full off the side, stuck. 9.825
Giunta (Pitt): Ro bhs double back, nice height. Punch front full to Rudi, little loose in the air. Switch half to wolf full to wolf half, lacked a bit of amplitude. 9.725
Clark (CU): Nice standing front tuck to beat jump. Pretty bhs loso. Straddle jump to straddle half, nice amplitude and extension. Punch Rudi, stuck. 9.9
Larson (Pitt): Ro bhs double pike, solid. I LOVE how dramatic her music is. Punch front layout to a beautiful Rudi. Great leaps and I love how she drew the crowd in. 9.625
Nielsen (CU): Cat leap to switch leap, a little low in the cat leap. Bhs bhs loso, small balance check but I’m a sucker for a triple series. Side aerial beat jump, small balance check. Ro 1.5, stuck cold. 9.8
Cesarone (Pitt): Another dramatic routine, I’m in love. Ro 1.5 punch front layout, misses her footing and sits it down. I’m so here for the vibe change mid-routine. Switch half split half, pretty but could’ve had a bit more amplitude. Nice ro bhs double back to close. 8.975
Church (CU): Bhs loso, I have no idea how she saved that tbh. Pretty switch leap split half. Nice full turn. Side aerial split jump, ever so pretty. Ro 1.5, small hop forward. 9.775
Lee (Pitt): Punch front layout to front double full, I loved this so much. Switch full to Popa, I think?? Punch front full to Rudi, pretty. I’m not going to lie, I did dissociate mid-routine and got a little lost on what was happening. 9.775
Kuhl (CU): Bhs bhs loso, loses her footing and tries to save it but comes off. Split jump to tuck 3/4, small balance check and picks her leg up. Nice full turn. Ro tuck 1.5, stuck. 8.9
Ewing (Pitt): Fhs front full front layout, pretty. Switch full wolf half, great height. Ro bhs double back, steps forward out of it. Pretty back extension roll to end her dance. 9.825
Walsh (CU): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, great fight to stay square. Cat leap to front toss, small balance check. Switch leap to split half, misses her connection and adds a beat jump after the split half. Ro 1.5, stuck cold. A great routine to get the Tigers back on track before heading to floor. 9.475
Bedminster (Pitt): I LOVE the Nicki Minaj floor music omg. Ro bhs double back, lands with chest a little low. Punch front full to front full, this was stunning wow. Switch half to Popa, great amplitude. I love how interactive her routine was with her teammates. 9.8
After 3: Pittsburgh 146.325, Clemson 146.050
Pittsburgh holds on to the lead as we go into the final rotation. I feel really bad for Quinn Kuhl, she looked so good in warm up but just had a rough night. Hopefully both teams can end this meet on a high note!
Rotation 4: Pittsburgh BB, Clemson FX
Duke (Pitt): Bhs loso, no movement at all wow. Nice full turn. Side aerial split jump, pretty. Switch leap split half, small balance check. Ro 1.5, stuck. 9.8
Lippeat (CU): Ro bhs double back, solid. Switch half to Shushunova, love the control. Ro 1.5 front layout, dances right out of it. I love how involved the student section is with her routine. 9.8
Todd (Pitt): Pretty full turn. Switch leap to split half, great extension. I missed her other acro element oops. Bhs loso, stuck. Front double full, stuck cold. 9.8
Holman (CU): Fhs front double full, steps out of it. Switch side to Popa, I love this series so much. Fhs Rudi back loso, this was SO pretty omg. The crowd loved it as well. 9.85
Lee (Pitt): Nice full turn. Bhs loso, solid. Cat leap straddle 1/4, great extension. Split jump front toss, this was fun to watch. Ro 1.5, hops forward. 9.75
Minner (CU): Fhs punch double full, this pass was HUGE. Switch full to pike Shushunova full, I always love this ah. Fhs Rudi back loso, two of these passes in back to back routines…what a treat! 9.825
Simcox (Pitt): Beautiful wolf turn. Pretty front aerial to beat jump. Switch leap to sissone, great lines. Bhs side gainer full, stuck. 9.875
Arnold (CU): Huge ro bhs full-in. Great amplitude in leaps. Ro double full punch front, small hop back but great in the air. 9.6
Garvey (Pitt): Pretty bhs loso. Switch leap switch leap pike jump, so so pretty. Punch front, done like she was on the floor. Nice full turn. Ro 1.5, stuck.
Jackson (CU): Another huge full-in to open. Switch half split half, love the extension she gets. Front through to ro bhs double back, stuck. Nice Popa to close out.
Madso (Pitt): Bhs loso, pretty. Split half to bhs swing down, I love a good swing down. Nice full turn. Split jump to ring jump, ring was a little low. Front gainer tuck, stuck.
FINAL:
READ THIS NEXT: Judge’s Inquiry: Good vs. Great vs. Excellent Front-to-Back Beam Series
Live blog by Jessica Brock
