Providence, R.I.—Rhode Island College has qualified for the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) National Championship as a team for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
 
The Anchorwomen and five other institutions will battle for the national title at Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, March 22.
 
RIC qualified as an at-large selection with a 191.9 team average, which is currently fifth in the NCGA.
 
Head Coach Monica Mesalles Nassi's team is coming off a fifth place finish at the NCGA East Region Championship and posted the program's highest-ever team score (192.725) in a first place finish at a tri-match hosted by Springfield on Feb. 23.
 
Mesalles Nassi was named the NCGA East Region Coach of the Year for the third time in her career and her squad will be led by three All-Region gymnasts.
 
Fifth-year Olivia Keyes (Bridgewater, Mass.) was tabbed the NCGA East Region Gymnast of the Year for the second consecutive campaign. She was the region's individual champion on both floor and in all-around (fourth straight year).
 
Freshman Aaliyah Krause (Milwaukee, Wis.) was named the NCGA East Region Rookie of the Year. She earned All-Region honors on vault, floor and in the all-around.
 
Fifth-year Emma Tucker (Pompton Plains, N.J.) was the third Anchorwoman to earn All-Region honors on floor.
 
RIC is currently 1-0 in dual competition and took home first place at home tri-meets on Jan. 18 and Feb. 15, as well as a tri-meet (Feb. 2) and quad-meet (Feb. 23) hosted by Springfield.