When                            Thursday, March 30, 2023 | 2 p.m.
Where                           Petersen Events Center | Pittsburgh, PA
Team Records            Towson (26-7-1)
                                      Penn State (10-9)
Live Stats                    Sidearm Stats
Live Video                   ESPN (+)
 
 
 
Going Dancing
For the third consecutive season the Tigers have qualified for the NCAA Championships after finishing the season ranked 31st via RoadToNationals. Towson is heading to Pittsburgh for NCAA Regionals round one, facing No.32 Penn State on March 30 at 2 p.m. in the Petersen Events Center.
 
The winner of the dual meet will advance to the second round, competing against No.24 Maryland, No.15 Arizona State and No.2 Florida on March 31 at 7 p.m. in Pittsburgh. If Towson does not move on from the first round, individual qualifiers Polina Belanovski (vault), Isabella Minervini (bars) and Grace Vaillancourt (bars) will still compete in the next round. 
 
Ring Season
For the first time in program history the Tigers captured the EAGL Conference title, winning the 2023 EAGL Championships on March 18. The team competed in session two, joined by NC State, University of North Carolina and University of New Hampshire. 
 
The Tigers started off solid for their first rotation, placing second after posting a 49.250 on floor led by a pair of 9.875s from Grace Vaillancourt and Isabella Minervini. The Black & Gold then fell to third place after the second rotation due to a 48.950 on vault. The Tigers moved onto bars next, receiving a 49.075 assisted by a 9.875 from Minervini which ultimately moved them back to second place overall. 
 
Everything came down to Towson's final rotation, beam, as only .100 separated first through third place. Grace Vaillancourt's career high 9.950 got the team in a good position but a deduction due to a fall caused the Tigers to become dependent on at least 9.850 from Lauren Keener if they wanted to win the championship. Keener, who was last in the rotation to go, received a career high 9.900 which ultimately secured Towson the gold.  
 
The Black & Gold ended up posting a season high 49.225 for the rotation, which is the fourth highest bars score in program history. Nine Tigers picked up top-10 finishes including a first place from Grace Vaillancourt on beam. Towson finished with a final score of 196.500 topping NC State (196.425), North Carolina (196.350), New Hampshire (195.500), Temple (194.925), George Washington (194.525), LIU (194.275) and Pittsburgh (194.225). 
 
All-Tournament
10 Towson athletes were named to the EAGL All-Tournament team based on their performances at the championship meet, which was the most out of any team in the conference.
 
 Polina Belanovski and Camille Vitoff were named to the first team all-tournament on vault and Lauren Bolen was named to the second team. For bars, Isabella Minervini was named to first team while Grace Vaillancourt and Lauren Greene were named to second team. Grace Vaillancourt and Lauren Keener earned first team for beam, Bolen was named to second. Minervini, Vaillancourt and Paige Casper received first team honors on floor, Carmella Calafati and Amy Stewart were second team.
 
Scouting the Nittany Lions
Penn State has had quite a successful season, posting eight scores above 196 including a season high 197.025 - which is the teams highest score since 2016. The Lions are coming off of a seventh place finish at the Big Ten Championships, where they posted a 196.200 to top Iowa, Maryland and Rutgers. 
 
Penn State's highest scoring event is bars, where it posted a 49.425 at a dual meet with Auburn on March 10. Like Towson, the top individual scorers on each event each have posted scores of 9.925 or higher. Ava Piedrahita has a high of 9.950 on vault, Cassidy Rushlow takes bars with a 9.975, Bella Salcedo has beam with a 9.950 and Elina Vihrova is the top floor scorer at 9.925. 
 
The Tigers and Nittany Lions aren't too familiar with each other as they have only competed against one another three times since 2013, Penn State leads the series record at 3-0. The most recent meeting was on February 29, 2020 at a quad meet with Cornell and NC State. Towson fell to Penn State and NC State, posting a 193.750. 
 
EAGL Weekly Awards
-Towson received four weekly EAGL awards for the 2023 season
-All four awards were Rookies of the Week, received by freshman on the team
-Three of the nominations went to Isabella Minervini, two of which were awarded back-to-back
-Polina Belanovski received the last award during week six
 
EAGL Standings
-Towson finished the regular season ranked second in EAGL behind NC State
-The Tigers rank second on floor and vault, and first on bars
-Polina Belanovski is ranked second on vault
-Isabella Minervini and Grace Vaillancourt are tied for third on bars 
-Tigers posted the most 9.9's from any EAGL Team this season (33), tripling their previous record of 10
-Towson was the only team in EAGL to get a 49+ on an event in 10 consecutive meets
 
Home Arena Advantage 
-The Tigers found most success at home this season, taking home arena advantage to the full extent.
-Towson collected nine wins at SECU Arena, only losing to one team. 
-The team posted program best vault and bars scores at home meets, as well as the second highest team score. 
 
Towson Leaders by Event  
-Vault: Polina Belanovski and Camille Vitoff, 9.925 
-Bars: Grace Vaillancourt and Isabella Minervini, 9.950
-Beam: Grace Vaillancourt, 9.950
-Floor: Amy Stewart and Paige Casper, 9.925
 
Next Time on Tiger Gymnastics
-If Towson wins this dual meet they will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, which will be a quad meet with No.24 Maryland, No. 15 Arizona State and No.2  Florida.
-The meet takes place on Friday, March 31st at 7 p.m. 
-If Towson does not move on, Polina Belanovski (vault), Isabella Minervini (bars) and Grace Vaillancourt (bars) will represent the Tigers as individuals in the second round.