The Chippewas qualified by finishing 35th in the country in regional qualifying score (RQS) — the top 36 go to regionals. The RQS is calculated by averaging a team's second through fifth best scores during the season.

The top two teams from each of the six regionals advance to the April 15 NCAA Championships. In the Iowa City Regional, CMU goes up against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 12 Nebraska, No. 13 Arkansas, No. 19 Iowa and No. 30 Kent State.

Here's a breakdown of where the Chippewas stand in each of the four events:

Vault

For the Chippewas, the vault has been an area of struggle all season. CMU's average vault score is the lowest of all four of its events at 48.594. It is the only event the team hasn't scored above the coveted 49 all season.

Central Michigan is ranked 40th in the country in vault with its Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 48.795. Freshman Kasey Janowicz has lead the vault team this season, averaging a 9.788 with a season high of 9.875.

CMU's 45.550 on vault in the Mid-American Conference Championships was the lowest score of the four events for the Chippewas and was the worst vault score of the seven teams in competition. No Chippewa earned higher than a 9.775.

"We had a long discussion coming home from the MAC Championships," said Head Coach Jerry Reighard. "We had to accept the situation and they had to prove to me that they were going to work hard, and they had a passion to do the next two weeks. It’s been a great week of practice. I think we can be as ready as we can be.”

Regional Rankings/Top Athlete (RQS)

1. Oklahoma - 49.415 / AJ Jackson - 9.940

2. Arkansas - 49.160 / Amanda Wellick - 9.900

3. Nebraska - 49.105 / Hollie Blankse - 9.880

4. Iowa - 49.095 / Mollie Drenth - 9.870

5. Central Michigan - 48.795 / Kasey Janowicz - 9.830

6. Kent State - 48.675 / Nicolle Eastman - 9.780

Uneven Bars

Bars has been a consistent force for the Chippewas in 2016. The team's average score of a 48.9 is the highest of all four contested events.

CMU's bars RQS in the event is 49.045 ranking 24th in the nation. Sophomore Bryttany Kaplan and senior Megan Lamphere have both lead Central Michigan on the bars, both averaging over a 9.8 on the season.

They both scored a 9.9 in the MAC Championships, earning CMU's only two individual championships in the meet.

Regional Rankings/Top Athlete

1. Oklahoma - 49.575 / McKenzie Wofford - 9.950

2. Nebraska - 49.180 / Grace Williams - 9.875

3. Arkansas - 49.165 / Paige Zaziski - 9.875

4. Iowa - 49.160 / Johanny Sotillo - 9.845

5. Central Michigan - 49.045 / Bryttany Kaplan and Megan Lamphere - 9.855

6. Kent State - 48.940 / Ali Marrero - 9.845

Balance Beam

The Chippewa beam team has improved substantially since its first meet on Jan. 3 when the group scored a 47.175. Since then, CMU has averaged 48.692 and 49.008 in its past three meets.

CMU ranks 33rd in the country for beam RQS at 48.945. Leading the beam team is sophomore Katy Clements, averaging a team best of 9.789 this season. Her season best of 9.925 is the best score of any Chippewa gymnast on the beam in 2016.

Despite four scores of 9.825 or higher in the MAC Championships, a pair of falls on the event cost the Chippewas at least half a point and bumped the team from second to fourth in the overall standings.

“This year we’re definitely going in with the goal of not committing any major mistakes," Reighard said. "That really hurt us at championships when we had some falls on balance beams. You’re not going to be in any offensive position to help yourself if you’re not doing your best gymnastics.”

Regional Rankings/Top Athlete

1. Oklahoma - 49.445 / Chayse Capps - 9.955

2. Nebraska - 49.225 / Grace Williams - 9.895

3. Arkansas 49.195 / Amanda Wellick - 9.875

4. Iowa - 49.095 / Mollie Drenth - 9.895

5. Central Michigan - 48.945 / Katy Clements - 9.860

6. Kent State - 48.915 / Rachel Stypinski - 9.870

Floor Exercise

Second to bars, floor has been another stable strength for CMU. The floor team has averaged 48.715 on the year. CMU's 49.225 in its most recent floor performance, the MAC Championships, was the team's best of the season.

The floor team's RQS of 48.995 ranks 40th in the country. Sophomore Macey Hilliker has averaged 9.806 this season, and has only scored under a 9.8 in the first two meets of the season.

"We really want to focus on doing our performances each one individually from start to finish and focus on your job when it's your time," said senior Taylor Bolender. "We're trying not to focus on the meet as a whole, but more so focusing on my job when it's my turn."

Regional Rankings/Top Athlete

1. Oklahoma - 49.575 / Haley Scaman - 9.945

2. Arkansas - 49.280 / Samantha Nelson - 9.890

3. Nebraska 49.260 / Hollie Blanske - 9.920

4. Kent State - 49.095 / Jordan Hardison - 9.895

5. Iowa - 49.115 / Alie Glover - 9.880

6. Central Michigan - 48.995 / Taylor Bolender - 9.890