LINCOLN, Neb. - No. 6 Michigan State gymnastics continued its winning streak with a 196.725-196.700 victory over No. 23 Nebraska on Saturday night at the Devaney Center in Lincoln.
The Spartans move to 7-2 overall and 4-1 in Big Ten action with the win, while Nebraska falls to 2-9 (1-4 B1G). The win marks MSU's fifth victory over a top 25 opponent this season.
Junior Nikki Smith captured a share of the all-around title alongside Nebraska's Emma Spence, her third-straight and fifth overall in 2025. Smith also shared the vault title with teammates Gabrielle Stephen and Olivia Zsarmani, while senior Skyla Schulte won the beam and floor titles.
"We've definitely had better nights. We were a little off on the apparatus tonight, the leg events definitely kept us in the game," said head coach Mike Rowe. "Although bars was good, our dismounts didn't stay down. Beam was a little off as well. I was proud to see Emma, Gabi Ortiz, Kendall Abney, Sage and Cady get some experience yet again on new events and work on settling in and owning their performances. I'd really prefer the end result not be so close though! Next week we have Rutgers at home for the Jan Howard Memorial Breast Cancer Awareness Meet."
MSU opened the meet with a narrow 49.050-49.025 lead over Nebraska after a 49.050 on bars in the first rotation. Junior Sage Kellerman and fifth-year senior Delanie Harkness led the Spartans with matching 9.850s to earn a share of third place. Smith scored a 9.825, Zsarmani posted a 9.775 and Stephen scored a 9.750 in the leadoff spot.
The Spartans increased their lead over the Huskers to a tenth, 98.350-98.250, at the halfway point of the meet with a 49.300 on vault. Smith, Stephen and Zsarmani each scored a 9.900 to win the event title, with Smith winning her fifth title on the event of the season and Stephen and Zsarmani each collecting their second. It was also Stephen's second 9.900, which tied a season high, and second event title in as many meets on vault. Kellerman added a 9.825 in the anchor spot and sophomore MaKayla Tucker scored a 9.775 in the leadoff position.
A 49.400 on floor, MSU's highest-scoring event of the night, helped the Spartans increase their lead over Nebraska to 0.425 after three rotations. MSU took the top three spots on the event with a 9.925 from Schulte for the win and 9.900s from Smith and Stephen in second. Schulte's 9.925 was her third of the season on her event, while the floor title was her fourth of the season. Harkness scored a 9.825 in the the fourth spot. Sophomore Emma Misenheimer made her floor lineup debut after a pair of exhibitions earlier in the season, scoring a 9.825 in the No. 2 spot.
Despite a 49.375 on floor from the Huskers in the final rotation, MSU's 48.975 on beam was enough to secure the victory by a 0.025 margin. Schulte led the Spartans with her second beam title in as many meets with a 9.875. Smith scored a 9.800, freshman Cady Duplissis scored a 9.775 and Zsarmani earned a 9.700. For the second-straight meet, Stephen put together a clutch routine in the anchor spot to clinch the win for MSU, scoring a 9.825.
Stephen joined Smith in the all-around, finishing third with a 39.375. She finished ahead of Nebraska's Whitney Jencks (39.325) and Sophia McClelland (39.300).
Up next, MSU returns home for its final B1G dual meet of the season, hosting Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. inside Jenison Field House for the team's annual Breast Cancer Awareness Meet.
Recap courtesy of MSU Athletics.
