CORALVILLE, Iowa – The 23rd-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team defeated No. 21 Washington, 196.400-196.250, in its season opener on Friday evening in Xtream Arena. 196.400 is the second-highest score in a season opener in program history (196.450 at No. 11 Minnesota in 2021). 

The GymHawks had an event sweep over the Huskies with senior Adeline Kenlin winning on beam, floor and ultimately the all-around. Kenlin scored a career-best, 39.575, in the all-around. The Iowa City native finished in the top-two in every event in the meet. Sophomore Karina Muñoz was Iowa’s meet MVP after bringing home the event titles on vault and bars.  

Freshmen Eva Volpe and Alyse Karenbauer made their collegiate debuts. Volpe competed in all four apparatuses for the GymHawks and finished with an all-around score of 39.100. Junior Ilka Juk made her Iowa debut competing on bars and beam. 

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH LARISSA LIBBY 

“This was one those moments when you would have been okay to lose. I say that because our teams were very comparable and both teams did everything they possibly could.  This is an excellent Washington team and we are excited that we will represent this conference together beginning next season.  

Our team literally did everything right tonight.  I don’t mean from the gymnastics aspect but from all of the other things we ask them to do. From a team culture standpoint, they couldn’t have been better. The contributions came from every single member of this team. Everyone played a role tonight and owned those roles. Our upperclassmen did the most incredible job keeping our freshmen pumped and on the right track. Everything about this night was amazing and gives a very young team a fantastic start to the season.”

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to face the Gophers on Monday, Jan. 22. Action inside of Maturi Pavilion will begin at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcast on BTN.