Feb. 16, 2011

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -Currently ranked among the nation's top 36 teams, coming in at No. 33 overall, the University of Maryland gymnastics team will play host to its first home quad meet of the season as it hosts No. 18 Penn State, Rutgers and William & Mary on Friday at 7 p.m.

"We're excited to be back home competing in front of our fans," said head coach Brett Nelligan. "It should be an exciting meet and I know the team is fired up."

The Terrapins (7-3) are coming off a three-meet road trip in which they improved to 3-0 in East Atlantic Gymnastics League action thanks to back-to-back dual victories over conference foes North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

Earlier this week, freshman Katy Dodds was named EAGL Specialist of the Week for her performance at Pittsburgh. Dodds set a career high for the second consecutive week on vault, posting a meet-best 9.900 to lead Maryland to the 194.225-193.600 win.

In their last outing, the 18th-ranked Nittany Lions (6-4) topped the Tar Heels by posting a season-best 195.925 in Chapel Hill, N.C. Penn State has earned 195-plus scores in five of its six meets this season. Sophomore Sharaya Musser is Penn State's highest-ranked gymnast, coming in at No. 19 nationally overall and as high as No. 3 on balance beam.

Rutgers (8-3) is led by sophomore Danielle D'Elia and freshman Luisa Leal-Restrep whom have both earned EAGL honors this season. A former conference specialist of the week, D'Elia posted a season-best 9.875 on floor exercise in the Scarlet Knights' dual victory over SUNY Cortland. In the same meet, Leal-Restrepo earned EAGL Rookie of the Week honors after notching a career mark of 39.175.

William & Mary (3-10) has meet wins against Temple, Penn and West Chester this season. The Tribe recently saw junior Kristin Milardo earn the ECAC Coaches' Choice Award for her performance at George Washington when the Colorado Springs, Colo., native posted a season-best 37.975 in the all-around competition, finishing in third on the day.

Friday's quad meet will also serve as the Terrapin's annual breast cancer awareness meet and all Maryland gymnasts will be wearing pink to support breast cancer research.