Success comes in stages - score after score, leap after leap, or in the case of the Michigan women's gymnastics team, day after day.
Last night, the Wolverines successfully completed stage one in their quest for a national championship, finishing second in the evening round of preliminary competition in Gainesville, Fla., though they narrowly advanced to today's finale.
The Wolverines were only 0.225 away from being eliminated - and it was the injury-riddled Nikki Peters who saved the day.
Able to compete in only two events due to two sprained ankles, Peters won both the vault and the uneven bars with a pair of 9.95s. The sophomore's performances proved to be the difference, as no Wolverines placed in the top five in the all-around. Freshman Sarah Cain led Michigan with a 39.35.
Michigan advances to today's NCAA Super Six championship along with Georgia, UCLA, Arizona State, Florida and Nebraska. "We are very happy and excited about qualifying into tomorrow night's competition," Michigan coach Bev Plocki said. "The level of talent among all of these teams is incredible."
But things didn't go nearly as smooth as the Wolverines had planned.
Michigan - entering the championship No. 1 - scored a 196.2 in the all-around, its lowest score since early March. The Wolverines finished fourth overall among the teams advancing to the Super Six, handing the No. 1 seed over to the Bulldogs, who held the top spot the entire season.
Georgia proved its bust at the Southeast Regional was nothing more than a fluke, as it easily won the afternoon round with a 197.025 in the all-around. As expected, the Bruins cruised into second with a 196.425.
But Nebraska was the afternoon's biggest surprise. Entering as a darkhorse for a spot in the prized Super Six, the Cornhuskers edged out Utah in a tie-breaker based on throw-out scores. Both teams scored a 196.025.
Another underdog emerged into the light, as evening fell on the first evening of nationals. Arizona State - rarely mentioned in the same breath as the nation's elite this season - proved why the meets are held at all. The Sun Devils jumped over everyone in the evening round, tallying an all-around score of 196.275. The team championship will be determined today, but individual titles won't be handed out for another day. Entrance to Saturday's individual competition is based on last night's scores.
Peters' performances on vault and bars propelled her into those respective finals along with Cain on the bars and the all-around; Heather Kabnick on the floor exercise; and Kathy Burke, Andrea McDonald and Beth Amelkovich on the balance beam.
JON KRAFT/Daily
One, two, three, four - Michigan's gotta get Lisa Simes on the floor.