GYMNASTICS SHINES ON VAULT AND BEAM BUT FINISHES SECOND AT SAN JOSE STATE
2/1/2008
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Senior Melissa Genovese finished first on beam and freshman Alycia Chan recorded her first collegiate title on vault but it was not enough as Sacramento State finished second in a three-team meet hosted by San Jose State on Friday. The Spartans finished first with a team score of 193.525 and were followed by the Hornets (191.450) and Wisconsin-Stout (179.000).
With the win, SJSU improved its dual meet record to 7-0 on the season and defeated Sacramento State for the second consecutive time. The Hornets dropped to 2-3.
Genovese led a beam lineup which scored 48.975 to record the third highest score in the school history and the best of the 2008 season. Freshman Traci Takeda opened the rotation with a 9.700. She was followed by Chan who posted a 9.725. Sophomore Lizzy Norvell continued her hot streak on beam with a 9.825 and sophomore Eryn Stubblefield added the same score in the next routine. Junior Marina Borisova contributed a 9.725 before Genovese posted a 9.875. All six of the team’s individual scores finished among the top 10 in the meet. Stubblefield and Norvell tied for third behind Genovese and SJSU’s Veronica Porte.
Sacramento State also scored a season high on vault with a team score of 48.250. The team counted five scores of at least 9.500 en route to the final mark. Chan’s 9.825 was a career best and edged San Jose State’s Raylyn Cardeno for the top mark. Borisova was third with a 9.775 and Stubblefield placed fifth at 9.625.
While beam and vault were strong for Sacramento State, the team struggled on bars and floor. The Hornets entered the meet having scored 48-plus in the three previous meets of the season but managed just 47.100 on Friday. The team saw its first three gymnasts fall during the rotation but bounced back in the final half of the lineup. Borisova and senior Alexis Tsurumoto anchored the lineup with a 9.500 and 9.725, respectively. Borisova tied for second overall while Tsurumoto placed fourth. SJSU’s Alise Blackwell won the event with a 9.800.
Floor also had its troubles as no member of the team scored better than 9.650. Basgall opened the lineup with the best score and was later tied by Stubblefield.
Porte won the all-around with a four-event total of 38.875. Borisova was second, snapping her streak of two straight all-around titles, with a 38.725.
Sacramento State will next be in action on Friday, Feb. 8, when it hosts Seattle Pacific at 7 p.m. in the Hornets Nest.
---30---
San Jose State 192.525, Sacramento State 191.450, Wisc.-Stout 179.000
