Going into the final rotation on Friday night tied with No. 3 UCLA, the No. 2 Michigan women’s gymnastics team turned Friday night to freshman Katie Lieberman to perform her first floor routine ever in the Wolverines’ lineup.

Lieberman — who was supposed to perform an exhibition floor routine against UCLA — found out a couple of hours before the meet that she would actually be competing in place of junior Becca Clauson — who was out with the flu.

“I was really nervous when I first got out there,” Lieberman said. “But once I started getting into it, I was fine. It was a good confidence booster, just to hit my routine for the first time in the lineup. I was excited.”

Lieberman scored a 9.850, the third-best score on the team. Sophomore Lindsey Bruck (9.900) — who won the event — and senior Shanna Duggan (9.875) — who placed third — also contributed to Michigan’s season-best showing on floor exercise, and their efforts were good enough to give the Wolverines the victory, 196.250-195.250 over UCLA.

“I think we were all very, very excited over this win,” Ray said. “It was a big win for us, and we even did it with a few mess-ups. So once everything falls into place, it’s going to be good.”

The Wolverines exploded out of the gates on vault — finishing the event with almost a full point lead over the Bruins. They posted three scores of 9.900 or better, combining for their highest team vault score of the season (49.425). Deiley won the event with a 9.950, and Ray (9.925) came in second.

“I just had a great feeling that things were going to fall into place for us,” Plocki said. “That’s definitely the best vaulting that we’ve done all season. And not all stuck landings, but more stuck landings, which I was really pleased with.”

The Wolverines followed up with a consistent performance on the uneven bars. Ray — who was honored with five other Olympians to start the competition – won her eighth-straight title in the event with a 9.925.

Everything seemed to be going perfectly for the Wolverines — that is, until the third rotation. Even Olympian Ray, who fell, and All-American Bruck had trouble with the balance beam.

“(I was) a little disappointed with beam,” coach Bev Plocki said. “I think we got a little tentative, a little nervous and, basically, we had to count what would be the equivalent of a fall in that event.”

But Plocki rallied her troops, reminding them of the record setting crowd of 5,039.

“I just told them that I wanted them to go over there and really perform floor,” Plocki said. “And we had a great audience, and I wanted them to play to the audience and kind of get people involved in their routines … So they did.”

UCLA senior Kristen Maloney won the all-around with a 39.575 and UCLA freshman Tasha Shwikert tied Deiley for second place (39.325).

Michigan (196.750) also competed in the Michigan Classic yesterday beating in-state rivals Michigan State (195.275), Central Michigan (194.800), Western Michigan (192.325) and Eastern Michigan (191.325).

Michigan swept the individual all-around at the Classic. Bruck took first (39.525) also winning the balance beam (9.950) and tied for first in the uneven bars (9.850). Deiley took second in the all-around (39.475) and placed first in vault (9.900), and Ray finished third (39.250).