Panthers Travel to Maryland
3/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 10, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh gymnastics team continues action on the road, wrapping up the 2009 regular season with a trip to College, Park, Md., for a dual with the Terps. Earlier this season, Maryland defeated the Panthers in Pittsburgh, 194.650-194.050.
Scouting the Terps
The Terps enter Wednesday night's meet with an 11-7 overall and 7-3 EAGL record. Maryland finished second in a triangular meet to rival EAGL member North Carolina, while beating Temple to go 1-1 on the day.
Currently the Terps sit 34th in the national rankings, with the top 36 teams earning regional qualifying spots.
Utah State Recap
The Panthers continued their winning ways, dominating three of four events in a 194.550-192.675 defeat of Utah State. Pitt swept the top five spots on vault, led by junior co-captain Dani Bryan's 9.900.
Senior co-captain Alix Croop led the Panthers on bars, tallying a career-high 9.850, while freshman Alicia Talucci paced the beam squad, hammering out a 9.825 for top honors. In addition to her beam win, Talucci picked up the third first-place finish of the season in the all-around, totaling a score of 38.700.
Down the Stretch
After a three-week homestand, the Panthers hit the road for their final regular-season meet of the 2009. After returning from Logan, Utah with a 194.550-192.675 win over the Aggies of Utah State, Pitt will jump back on the road for a midweek date in College Park, Md., against EAGL rival Maryland on Wednesday, March 11. The Terps narrowly escaped Fitzgerald Field House with a win on Feb. 13, finishing slighty ahead, 194.650-194.050.
Going Out in Style
Four Pitt seniors ended their careers at Fitzgerald Field House on a high note, upsetting 26th-ranked Denver, 194.725-193.700 on Feb. 28. Following the defeat of the Pioneers, seniors Anya Chayka, Alix Croop, Andrea Konesky and Victoria McGuigan-Carl were honored in front of the home crowd.
In the Mix
Entering their dual meet with Maryland on March 11, the Panthers sit just two spots away from the 36th and final regional qualifying spot. As a team, they are nationally ranked 25th on both vault and beam, and 38th overall.
Dani Bryan is 23rd in the nation on the vault with an RQS of 9.870 while nearly every event lineup is ranked in the regional top 30.
Winner's Circle
Dani Bryan, Alix Croop and Alicia Talucci all have something in common, winning. Bryan has not finished lower than second on vault in a meet this season, capturing first place five times. Croop is a three-time bars winner, including last weekend's career-setting performance against Utah State.
And Talucci, is a true freshman who has progressed every week. The three-time EAGL honoree has won the all-around title three of the five meets she has competed in.