CHICAGO – Women’s gynmastics head coach Bob Starkell said this week that the way his team had been practicing, it seemed poised for its best meet of the year.

He was right.

After a string of five disappointing meets, Illinois bounced back with a 195.725-193.850 victory over the UIC Flames.

The Illini were led by youth, as freshman standout Allison Buckley won three of the four events. The only event that she did not win, the uneven parallel bars, was won by Illinois sophomore Sarah Schmidt.

Starkell was confident that this meet would be indicative of his youthful team starting to finally “get it.”

“I think we’re finding out young people are really coming into their own a little bit and compete as college gymnasts,” Starkell said after the meet. “It’s taken a little while but better now than still trying to figure it out during championship time.”