SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The University of Iowa gymnastics team defeated Sacramento State, 196.025-194.900, on Sunday afternoon inside of The Nest.
Sophomore Karina Muñoz led the way for the GymHawks finishing with four of the five event titles in the meet. The New Jersey native won her second all-around title of the season scoring a 39.525. She also brought home event titles on vault, beam and shared the floor title with sophomore Bailey Libby. Iowa finished the afternoon with 10 top-three finishes.
BARS
The GymHawks opened the meet on bars and posted a team score of 48.750, tying with the Hornets in the first rotation. Freshman Eva Volpe scored a noteworthy 9.775, and sophomore Gianna Masella a 9.750. Muñoz scored an impressive 9.825 in the anchor position which gave her a second-place finish in the meet in the event.
VAULT
The Hawkeyes took the lead after the second rotation with a team score of 48.850. Muñoz brought home the event title with a 9.875. Alyse Karenbauer debuted a new vault which featured a Yurchenko one and a half that scored a season-high, 9.825. Hanna Castillo stuck her vault for a 9.825, matching her career-high and setting a new season best. Castillo and Karenbauer tied for second on the event in the meet.
FLOOR
Iowa kept the lead through the third rotation, posting a 49.250, which was the highest event total in the meet. Sophomores Muñoz and Libby tied for first place in the apparatus, each posting an impressive 9.900. This was Libby’s third 9.900 of the season. Emily Erb’s outstanding routine that featured explosive tumbling earned her a 9.875, a third-place finish. Castillo posted her second 9.825 of the day for the Hawkeyes.
BEAM
In the final rotation, the GymHawks had a team score of 49.175 to secure the win over Sacramento State. Aubrey Nick tied her season best in the apparatus posting a 9.875. Junior Ilka Juk added another 9.875 in the fifth spot. Juk and Nick shared second place on the event. Muñoz ended the meet on a high note earning a 9.925 in the anchor position and taking home the event title.
UP NEXT
The GymHawks will head to Ames, Iowa to compete against Iowa State on Friday, March 8 in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Action inside of Hilton Coliseum will begin at 6:30 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription needed).