STANFORD, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team opened its season with strong performances on beam and floor but counted falls on vault and bars en route to a fifth-place finish at the NorCal Classic on Monday at Stanford. The Hornets scored 192.875 but were unable to catch the rest of the field. Cal, which is ranked 11th in the preseason poll, won the NorCal Classic for the second consecutive year with a 195.475. Host and 18th-ranked Stanford was second at 194.925. San Jose State (194.475) and UC Davis (194.400) finished third and fourth, respectively.

Sacramento State opened the meet on bars and finished with a total of 47.950. Senior Courteney Ng and freshman Jordyn Brent opened the rotation with each scoring 9.775. The Hornets then had falls on their next two routines before senior Annie Juarez bounced back with a career best 9.800 to tie for sixth place in the meet. Caitlin Soliwoda completed the rotation with a 9.525.

The Hornets saw a half-point improvement on beam during its second rotation. Freshman Kendra Braida opened with a 9.575 in her first collegiate routine. Jackie Sampson followed with a 9.625 and the team closed with a 9.750 from Lauren Rice, a 9.700 from Caitlin Soliwoda and a 9.800 from Courtney Soliwoda who tied for eighth place.

Senior Jennifer Brenner led off on floor and finished with a team best 9.800. Sacramento State counted four other scores between 9.725 and 9.775 during the event and totaled 48.775. Rice ranked second among the team with a 9.775.

The Hornets' surge ended on vault during its final rotation. The team was forced to count a fall and finished with a total of 47.700. Juarez tied for second place in the meet with a 9.800 from the anchor spot in the lineup. The senior's score was her best since a 9.825 as a freshman in 2015.

Elizabeth Price of Stanford finished first in three events as well as the all-around. Price scored 9.850 on vault and then recorded a perfect 10.00 to win on bars. She was also first on the floor with a 9.975 and totaled 39.650 to win the all-around. Cal's Tori-Ann Williams claimed the other event title with a 9.900 on beam.

Sacramento State returns home to face Washington on Friday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. The meet will also serve as WingStop Kids Day with all children 12 and under admitted for free.

TEAM SCORES
1. California, 195.475; 2. Stanford, 194.925; 3. San Jose State, 194.475; 4. UC Davis, 194.400; 5. Sacramento State, 192.875.

VAULT
1. Elizabeth Price, Stanford, 9.850; T2. Annie Juarez 9.800; T16. Jordyn Brent 9.625; T20. Lauren Rice 9.600; T25. Alexis Belkoff 9.550; 29. Tara Catour 9.125; 30. Kendra Braida 9.100.

BARS
1. Elizabeth Price, Stanford, 10.000; T6. Annie Juarez 9.850; T13. Courteney Ng, Jordyn Brent 9.775; 22. Caitlin Soliwoda 9.525; 26. Jackie Sampson 9.025; 29. Lauren Rice 8.150.

BEAM
1. Toni-Ann Williams, Cal, 9.900; T8. Courtney Soliwoda 9.800; T12. Lauren Rice 9.750; T16. Caitlin Soliwoda 9.700; T21. Jackie Sampson 9.625; T25. Kendra Braida 9.575; 27. Tara Catour 9.525.

FLOOR
1. Elizabeth Price, Stanford, 9.975; T11. Jennifer Brenner 9.800; T15. Lauren Rice 9.775; 19. Jackie Sampson 9.750; T21. Annie Juarez, Jordyn Brent, 9.725; 29. Carly Pratt 9.575.

ALL-AROUND
1. Elizabeth Price, Stanford, 39.650; 10. Lauren Rice 37.275.