After a disappointing second-place finish to Nebraska at the Big Ten Championships two weeks ago, the No. 5 Michigan women’s gymnastics team approached the NCAA Regionals with a different mentality. Centered on positivity rather than pressure, the Wolverines won their 10th NCAA Regional Championship at the WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, W. Va. on Saturday night.

“We had so much fun out there,” said senior Brittnee Martinez. “We just wanted to have fun — not forced fun — and just enjoy the experience. I think that type of thinking definitely helped us today.”

Under strict judging, Michigan (17-2 Big Ten, 29-2 overall) scored a 196.725 to top the standings and qualify for the NCAA Championships. Senior Katie Zurales and junior Joanna Sampson, the captains of the Michigan squad who qualified individually for the NCAA Championships, will have the rest of the Wolverines alongside them this year.

No. 17 Illinois upset No. 8 Nebraska, 196.025-195.875, for the second automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.

Seeded No. 1 in the regional, the Wolverines competed in Olympic order. Beginning on vault, every gymnast scored a 9.800 or higher to tally a 49.200 total score. Zurales and freshman Austin Sheppard led the team, each scoring 9.875 for an explosive Yurchenko full with only the slightest foot shuffle on the landing.

On the third rotation, after a bye, Michigan moved to uneven bars, where Martinez and Sampson scored identical 9.900s to take top honors for their near-flawless routines, highlighted by sky-high Tkatchevs and stuck double layout dismounts.

“I was actually nervous to go, but I embraced the feeling,” Martinez said. “After I got started, I just went on autopilot.”

The other four Wolverines scored at or above a 9.850 on bars — all six competitors placed in the top three on the event. Sophomore Sachi Sugiyama scored a 9.850 after falling on bars in her two previous meets. Zurales, a consistent all-around competitor, didn’t compete on bars to rest her elbow she tweaked at Big Tens.

At the halfway point, Michigan led with a 98.575, followed by Illinois, Kentucky and Nebraska with scores of 97.925, 97.800 and 97.400, respectively.

On beam, the pressure was on from the very beginning after Gies fell on her flight series in the lead-off position. The rest of the team competed with the same consistency it has had all season, hitting its routines. Sophomore Annette Miele tied her career-best 9.875 with her wobble-free routine highlighted by a stuck roundoff double full to finish second on beam. Zurales performed a unique side aerial to backhandspring flight series as well as a perfect beat to sheep jump, scoring a 9.900 and tying Illinois senior Alina Weinstein for the event title.

“For beam, we always talk about not letting any outside factors affect your routines,” Zurales said. “I think every one of us did a good job of that, and everyone did exactly what she needed to do.”

Freshman Briley Casanova competed in the anchor position, arguably the highest-pressure spot on beam, and scored a 9.725 to prevent the team from counting a fall.

Prior to the final rotation, Michigan led the team standings with a 147.625, followed by Illinois and Nebraska battling for second with scores of 146.850 and 146.225, respectively. Illinois closed out the meet on beam, the toughest event to hit under pressure, while Michigan and Nebraska would finish on its best events, floor and vault, respectively.

Beilstein, Sugiyama and junior Reema Zakharia scored 9.875s for their energetic performances to tie for second on floor. The team score of 49.100 was enough to maintain Michigan’s lead throughout all four events.

Nebraska recorded the highest event total of the night on any event with a 49.650 on vault. Despite a stellar rotation that marked the Cornhuskers’ best NCAA postseason score in program history, it wasn’t enough to surpass Illinois, which scored a 49.175, the highest beam total of the night.

“It’s a great feeling to be going back to nationals,” said Michigan coach Bev Plocki. “We felt like we should have been there last year and just came up an eyelash short so I think in a lot of ways, this regional meet is the toughest. If you don’t have a good meet, you’re staying at home.

“We still have little things to clean up. We have yet to have our perfect meet. Hopefully that’s in the stars and we’ll have that in Los Angeles.”