Chambana Sun

The Fighting Illini gymnastics team faced a narrow defeat against the No. 9 Missouri team with a final score of 197.200 to 196.675 on Sunday, February 9, at Huff Hall. Despite the loss, Illinois recorded their highest team score of the season and saw four event title winners emerge.

On vault, Olivia Coppola opened for Illinois with a score of 9.800, matching her season high. Arielle Ward set a new personal best with a 9.900 on vault, securing the event title. Head coach Nadalie Walsh commented on the team's performance: "We competed three 10.0 start values on vault today, which is a huge milestone for Illinois Women's Gymnastics, and I can't wait to watch them keep getting better," she said. "Arielle, Mya and Eden have really stepped up in raising the difficulty of their vaults."

After the first rotation, Illinois trailed Missouri by 49.200 to 49.475 points. On bars, Makayla Green led with a score of 9.850 while Arielle Ward added a solid 9.800.

Amelia Knight and Olivia Coppola both scored a 9.900 on beam, marking season highs for Knight and career highs for Coppola as they tied for first place on this apparatus along with another competitor.

In the floor exercise during the final rotation, Ward equaled her career-high score of 9.875 before Chloe Cho achieved her own career-best of 9.950 to claim an event title.

Reflecting on the team's back-to-back performances over the weekend, Walsh expressed satisfaction: "Having a double-meet weekend this early in February was a difficult thing to do, and I'm very proud of this team for having two of their best meets back-to-back," she stated. "I am very pleased with the maturity that we're starting to see and the personalities that are developing."

Illinois will have another chance against Missouri next weekend at the Zou to Lou Quad meet on February 14 at 6:30 p.m., where Alabama and Iowa will also compete.

Event Winners:

- Chloe Cho - Floor Exercise (9.950)

- Olivia Coppola - Balance Beam (9.900)

- Amelia Knight - Balance Beam (9.900)

- Arielle Ward - Vault (9.950)

Career Highs:

- Chloe Cho - Floor Exercise (9.950)

- Olivia Coppola - Balance Beam (9.900)

- Mya Gordon - Vault (9.775)

- Eden King - Vault (9.825), Balance Beam (9.825)

- Mareli Muller - Floor Exercise (9.875)

- Megan Sapp - Balance Beam (9.775)

- Arielle Ward - Vault (9.950), Floor Exercise (9.875)