The Northern Illinois University gymnastics team hosted conference foe Ball State on Saturday afternoon at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies fell, 193.800-191.050, in the home opener.

“We had a strong start on vault, Dawsyn Sallee had a great vault today,” said head coach Nita Teague. “We feel we have talent, we just need to settle in.”

In total, eight Huskies set season-highs in the meet, including Sallee (Versailles, Ky./Woodford County High) scoring a 9.825 on vault in the Huskies first rotation. Sallee’s career-high is 9.850, a mark the junior has hit three times.

The Huskies highest scoring rotation came on vault, posting a 48.650, just ahead of their floor score of 48.600.

Rotation One

NIU began the meet with a strong start on vault with four gymnasts scoring a 9.700 or higher. Sallee’s 9.825 is a team high for the season and placed second in the meet.

Rotation Two

Moving to bars, freshman Avery Riiff (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way East) led NIU with a season best 9.700 score.

Rotation Three

Riiff once again paced the Huskies in the third rotation with a 9.825 on beam – another season high for the freshman and highest mark by NIU. Sallee added a score of 9.775 while senior Jocelyn Harbeck (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) finished with a 9.700.

Rotation Four

NIU placed two on floor, led by junior Mikayla Brown (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) earning a score of 9.775. Freshman Alanah Wallace (Frisco, Tex./Frisco) tied for third with a 9.750.

Harbeck tied a career-high on floor with a 9.725.

Up Next

NIU is back in the Convo next Sunday at 1 p.m., hosting Wisconsin-La Crosse.