MARS HILL, N.C. — The Belmont Abbey acrobatics & tumbling team returned to competition Friday as the Crusaders faced No. 14 Lander and Mars Hill Friday evening at Chambers Gymnasium.

Belmont Abbey improved on its overall score from the first meet but took two losses as the Crusaders finished with 231.945 points. Lander and Mars Hill finished with scores of 253.995 and 237.835, respectively.

With Friday's results, Belmont Abbey is 0-3 on the season while Lander is 3-1 and Mars Hill is 1-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Event 1 — Compulsory
Belmont Abbey opened the meet with a score of 31.6 in the Compulsories. The two best scores came in the Pyramid and Toss heats, with scores of 9.30 and 9.25, respectively.
Lander finished with a score of 37.75 and Mars Hill had 33.55.

Event 2 — Acro
The Crusaders continued the meet with a score of 22.15/29.25 in the event. The best score came in 7 Element Acro, scoring 8.5/9.95. Katilyn Blakeney, Sadie Hunt, Isabella Schrout, Brianna Buchear and Andresa Orendain competed for the Crusaders.

Belmont Abbey also had a score of 8.15/9.95 in 5 Element Acro with Orendain and Blakeney competing along with Mackenzie Linegar, Grace Carroll and Brielle Ehasz.

Mars Hill had the best score of the event with a 27.45 compared to a 27.0 for Lander.

Event 3 — Pyramid
The first half of the meet concluded with the Crusaders scoring a 24.55 out of a possible 28.90 start value.

The Crusaders did earn a pair of 9.0 or higher scores highlighted by a 9.35/9.9 in the Open Pyramid. The Crusaders also earned a 9.0/9.5 in the Inversion Pyramid.
Lander had the best score of the vent with a 29.0/29.8 while Mars Hill had a 25.4/30.

At halftime, Belmont Abbey had a score of 78.3 while Lander had a score of 93.75 and Mars Hill had 86.40.

Event 4 — Toss
All three teams were within one point of each other in the event. Belmont Abbey finished with 25.55 points while Lander and Mars Hill had 26.55 and 26.35 points, respectively.

The Crusaders' best score came in the Open Toss, an 8.75/9.4 with Schrout, Linegar, Blakeney, Buchear, Carroll and Sarah Brady competing for the Abbey.

Brady also helped the Abbey earn an 8.65/9.0 in the 450 Salto Toss with Ehasz, Payton Lanier, Alyssa Westbrook, Anna Audet and Mckenna Shane.

Event 5 — Tumbling
Belmont Abbey finished with a 47.475 out of a 53.15 total start value.

In the team passes, the best score for the Crusaders in the Trio Pass with Shane, Tia Fluellen and Meagan Henry scoring an 8.45/8.75. In the individual passes, Fluellen finished with a strong 9.2/9.55 in the Aerial Pass while Henry had an 8.55/8.75 in the Open Pass.

Lander finished with a score of 52.325 while Mars Hill had 49.075 points.

Event 6 — Team Event
The Crusaders closed the meet with a score of 80.62 in the team event. Lander had the top score with an 81.37 while Mars Hill finished with a 76.01.

UP NEXT

• The Crusaders are off for two weeks before returning to the mat for a road meet at Coker.
• The meet is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start in Hartsville, S.C.