GYMNASTICS SETS SCHOOL POSTSEASON RECORD AT NCAA WEST REGIONAL

4/12/2008

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Sacramento State women’s gymnastics team closed out its 2008 season by recording its best team score at an NCAA Regional in school history on Saturday night at Oregon State. The Hornets compiled a team total of 193.575 and finished sixth at the event. The previous best postseason score was 192.050 in 2006.

Host Oregon State, who entered as the second seed in the regional, claimed the top spot with a score of 197.100. Top-seeded Michigan will join the Beavers at the NCAA Championships after scoring 196.375. The rest of the field played out just as it was seeded. Michigan State finished third at 195.125, Washington was fourth at 194.075 and San Jose State scored 193.850 to place fifth.

Individually, Sacramento State was led by senior Melissa Genovese, sophomore Eryn Stubblefield and freshman Alycia Chan. Genovese finished sixth in the all-around with a score of 38.925. The El Dorado Hills, Calif., native will now be the alternate for the NCAA Championships in the all-around. She also tied for eighth on beam with a 9.850. Stubblefield, who was competing in her hometown of Corvallis, Ore., also tied Genovese on beam while Chan tied for sixth on vault with a 9.850. Chan’s finish ties her for the second highest by a Hornet in NCAA postseason competition.

The Hornets began the meet on floor and scored 48.475. Genovese posted the top score with a 9.775 and the team was aided from a 9.750 from senior Nicole Giao and a pair of 9.700s from Stubblefield and junior Amber Basgall.

Chan led the way on vault and helped the team score 48.300. Following the freshman was junior Marina Borisova, who scored 9.725. The team also counted a 9.625 from Giao and had Genovese and freshman Traci Takeda score 9.550.

Following a bye, Sacramento State moved to bars where it endured its most problems of the evening. The team was paced by senior Alexis Tsurumoto’s 9.775 and a 9.750 from Genovese. Basgall contributed a 9.650 and sophomore Lauren Dyson scored 9.575 but the team was forced to count a fall as well.

As has been the case for the majority of the season, beam was the strongest event for the Hornets at the regional. The team scored 48.900 and counted five scores of at least 9.675, including three above 9.825. Takeda led things off with a solid 9.675 and set the table for Stubblefield’s 9.850, a 9.825 from sophomore Lizzy Norvell and a 9.700 from Chan. After a fall (which was not counted), Genovese completed her career with her 9.850. The team’s event score ranked fourth in the meet behind Oregon State, Michigan and Michigan State.

OSU made the most of its home-gym advantage, winning all of the individual titles. Yuki Lamb was one of three Beavers to score at least a 9.900 on vault and finished first with a 9.925. Jen Kesler was first on bars with a 9.950, Jami Lanz won beam with a 9.950 and Mandi Rodriguez and Tasha Smith tied for the top spot on floor with a 9.900.

Lanz also finished first in the all-around with a four-event total of 39.575. She was followed by Lindsey Bruck (39.375) and Sarah Curtis (39.350) both of Michigan