The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports

Coach Suzanne Youclan hugs senior Tiffany Tolnay after she completed her routine on beam. Tolnay earned four All-America titles which gives her 16 for her career, tying the school record. [Click to enlarge]

LINCOLN, Neb. - This has been a long time coming for Tiffany Tolnay.

Tolnay has struggled through injury after injury this season, and admits she hasn't had the most fun during her senior season.

But Tolnay showed strong Thursday, posting a 39.500 in the all-around to complete a 1-2 Georgia senior sweep of the afternoon session's all-around with Courtney Kupets.

Tolnay added four All-American titles, giving her 16 for her career. That ties the Georgia school record, held by Agina Simpkins.

She came in sixth overall in the all-around Thursday.

"Tiffany, I thought, was huge for us though because she's that X-factor," said head coach Suzanne Yoculan. "She's either up or she's down, there's really no gray area in between for her. I was really proud of her to do such a great floor routine, which has been a problem all year with her foot injury, which is still there by the way."

Tolnay began the meet with a 9.900 on floor, before putting up a 9.925 on vault, the lone event in which she, or anybody, outscored Kupets.

After a step on her landing for a 9.800 on bars, she bounced back for a 9.875 on beam.

"I don't know where it comes from, it comes from deep, deep, deep, way inside where you can never find it and then she just pulls it out," Courtney McCool said of Tolnay. "And it's just like oh my gosh, that is the most incredible thing I've ever seen. I know it's a breath of fresh air for her because of all the injuries she has all the time and for her to be able to do that is just inspiring."

Kupets' 10 on beam, her fifth of the season, sealed her 13th all-around title in 14 meets this season. Kupets scored five All-American titles, giving her 15 for her career.

Kupets was named the NCAA all-around champion, her third such title in three years competing at NCAAs after tearing her Achilles last season.

The award makes Kupets just the second three-time all-around champion, joining Jenny Hansen of Kentucky. Her 39.800 ties her for the highest score to clinch such a title, matching the mark Hansen set in 1995.

It also gives Kupets six individual NCAA titles, just two behind Hansen's record.

She'll have the chance to break that record, as she qualified for Saturday's individual competitions in all four events.

Tolnay will compete individually on vault and floor.

"It was a disappointing 9.8 on bars for her and then she came back strong on beam," Yoculan said. "A lot of fight from Tiffany. She had so much confidence, and we're going to need that kind of leadership [today] from Courtney and Tiffany all throughout the meet."

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