GYMNASTICS LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK AT SAN JOSE STATE ON FRIDAY

2/5/2009

A week after a disappointing loss to Illinois State, the Sacramento State gymnastics team returns to Western Athletic Conference competition as it travels to San Jose State on Friday, Feb. 6. The Hornets enter the meet with a 3-4 overall record following their 192.825-192.800 loss to the Redbirds at the Hornets Nest.

In the meet, senior Marina Borisova finished first in the all-around (39.150) and on bars (9.850), tied for first on beam (9.800) and floor (9.750), and was second on vault (9.750). Junior Eryn Stubblefield joined Borisova at the top of the beam rankings with a season high 9.800.

However, the efforts of those two were not quite enough to record the team victory as Sacramento State was forced to count a fall on both beam and floor. The loss by .025 points was the narrowest margin of defeat for the Hornets in the last 10 years.

San Jose State is 5-1 with wins over Cal State Fullerton, BYU, UC Davis and Seattle Pacific (twice). The team’s lone loss came against Boise State (193.900-193.700). Freshman Thomasina Wallace is the reigning WAC Gymnast of the Week after scoring a meet-best 39.200 in the all-around and winning bars with a score of 9.875.

The Hornets lead the all-time series against the Spartans, 37-23-1. The 61 total match-ups are the most for Sacramento State against any opponent (UC Davis is second with 60). The team’s 37 victories over SJSU rank third behind 42 against UC Davis and 38 against Alaska Anchorage.

A Little Early
Last week’s notes mentioned that the team would be aided by the return of Amber Basgall and Alycia Chan to help offset the loss of Chantal Angyal. The prediction was only half right as Basgall performed an exhibition on vault for the first time this season. The senior received one solid score (9.700) but the other judge countered with a 9.000 after claiming that Basgall was touched by a coach during a release move. The Turlock, Calif., native should be in the lineup on bars at San Jose State this Friday and is getting closer to competing on both vault and floor.

Chan was slated to compete early in the week but an Achilles injury put her back on the shelf last week. Further testing has ruled out a tear and the Langley, British Columbia, native will likely miss one more meet while recovering.

Bars Breakthrough
Despite not having Basgall in the lineup, the Hornets produced a season high score on bars against Illinois State. Sacramento State scored 48.575 and were led by Borisova’s season-high tying 9.850. Sophomore Amanda Blauvelt added a 9.750 and Lauren Dyson scored 9.700. All three finished among the top five in the meet. The team also counted a 9.650 from Stubblefield and a 9.625 from freshman Cayla Boyce.

Measuring Marina
Borisova continued her consistent start to the season, scoring 39-plus in the all-around for the fourth-straight meet. Borisova is currently averaging 39.131 which ranks her second in the WAC, sixth in the West Region and 30th nationally. In 16 performances this year, Borisova has only one score below a 9.725. She currently is ranked third in the WAC and 25th nationally on bars with an average of 9.831. Her average of 9.775 on beam places her second in the WAC and she is fifth on floor with an average of 9.800.

Notes
Sacramento State will be without the services of Lizzy Norvell on beam this weekend due to the fact that she will be competing in the pole vault at the Boise State Invitational. Last season, Norvell finished second at the Big Sky outdoor championships and set the school record…12 different Hornets have made the lineup and another three have performed exhibitions this season…the Hornets dropped to 37th in the latest national rankings this week…the team will be able to post its first regional qualifying score of the year following this weekend’s meet.