On Saturday, Illinois State comes to Penn, not only for the Quakers first home meet of the 2013-14 season, but also for the debut of new equipment.

Penn and Temple had the opportunity to show off their skills in a low-pressure environment in front of a home crowd.

On Friday, the Penn and Temple gymnastics teams will put on an exhibition, the first in the brand new Nalitt Family Center. And both squads couldn’t be more excited to show it off.

With their second highest score of the season (193.725), the Quakers eked by Cornell (193.250) to clinch their second ECAC title in a row.

This weekend, the Penn gymnastics team will be feeling the pressure. But for the defending ECAC champions, that comes with the territory. The Quakers will be heading up to Cornell hoping to win their second consecutive conference crown.

Even with a solid score of 191.525 in this weekend’s matchup against North Carolina, the meet did not end in the Quakers’ favor.

It’s no secret in the gymnastics community that a female competitor usually peaks around the age of 16, long before one enters college.

The Quakers started off their spring break strong, defeating Ursinus 189.425 to 185.375.

The Penn women’s gymnastics team was unable to hold onto its crown as the two-time defending Ivy League champions.

Looking for their third Ancient Eight title in as many years, Penn gymnastics will square off against Brown, Yale and Cornell on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Against Bridgeport and former Olympian Monica Mesalles Sallare, Penn narrowly fell 195.325-193.975 at the Palestra despite posting its fourth-highest overall score in program history.

In the Quakers’ only meet at the Palestra all season, against Bridgeport, it is the Red and Blue’s most–and least–experienced members that merit watching.

On Saturday, the Quakers will travel to neighboring West Chester for their second dual meet of the season after beating Yale back on Jan. 27.

The Quakers came in second with a 189.575, beating the Centenary score of 187.550, but falling to host Ball State, which came out with a 193.800.

The Red and Blue beat their team score from last weekend and achieved a new season high of 191.525. With only one fall on the balance beam, the women are becoming stronger and more consistent.

Engaged in a four-way battle royal with Rutgers, Bridgeport and Ursinus, the Quakers came away from New Jersey with a final score of 190.525, good for third place.

Penn gymnastics will face off against Rutgers, Bridgeport and Ursinus in New Brunswick, N.J., on Saturday at 1 p.m.