GYMNASTICS HOSTS SAN JOSE STATE IN "THINK PINK" MEET ON SUNDAY

2/12/2009

The Sacramento State gymnastics team returns home for just the second time this season to host San Jose State on Sunday, Feb. 15. The meet against the Spartans will start at 2 p.m. in the Hornets Nest and will serve as the team’s “Think Pink” meet. Both teams in the meet will wear pink
The Hornets are 3-5 following a 194.200-192.300 loss at San Jose State on Feb. 6. Against SJSU, Marina Borisova finished first on beam and in the all-around and Lauren Dyson and Amanda Blauvelt tied for first on bars. However, for the second straight week, the team was not able to overcome falls on both beam and floor.

San Jose State improved to 6-1 with the win and is now ranked 28th nationally. The team’s lone loss came against Boise State (193.900-193.700). Last week, Lily Swan finished first on vault, Alise Blackwell tied for top honors on bars and Veronica Porte and Thomasina Wallace tied for first on floor to lead the Spartans.

The Hornets lead the all-time series against the Spartans, 37-24-1. The 62 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.

Encore Performance
For the third time this season, Marina Borisova was named the Western Athletic Conference’s Gymnast of the Week. Borisova most recently won the all-around and beam competitions in a meet at San Jose State on Feb. 6. Against the Spartans, Borisova had a four-event total of 38.950, which was the best in the conference for the week. The senior scored 9.700 on vault, 9.650 on bars, 9.825 on beam and 9.775 on floor.

The Sacramento native is currently ranked in the top 50 nationally in the all-around as well as on bars and beam. She is also ranked among the top five in the WAC on bars (fifth), beam (second), and floor (fifth). Her all-around average of 39.095 ranks second in the league.

By Any Means Necessary
Not that long ago, it was not that uncommon for Sacramento State to go through a meet with just one all-arounder. In fact, there have been a number of seasons in which the team has only had two all-arounders. Last Friday, the Hornets featured four gymnasts who competed in all four events. The quartet was comprised of Borisova, junior Eryn Stubblefield, and freshmen Cayla Boyce and Lauren Mizuno.

While Borisova, Stubblefield and Boyce have competed in the all-arounder in each meet this season, Mizuno made her debut at SJSU. Prior to the meet, the walk-on freshman had been in the lineup on vault and floor. She has also been a fixture in exhibitions in all four events.

A Busy Weekend
Junior Lizzy Norvell will have to do a little more work than the rest of her teammates this weekend. Norvell will travel to Seattle on Friday with the Hornets track and field team to compete in the Husky Classic on Saturday. She will fly back to Sacramento on Saturday night and, after a little rest, rejoin the gymnastics team for Sunday’s meet. Norvell missed last weekend’s meet at San Jose State due to the fact that she was competing in the pole vault at the United Heritage Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.

Bar Brigade
Over the past four meets, bars has been the most successful event for Sacramento State. The team is averaging 48.475 during that span and has scored at least 48.350 in all four meets. Against San Jose State, the Hornets were led by Dyson and Blauvelt who each scored 9.750 to tie for first place.

A sophomore from Wall, N.J., Blauvelt has risen her scores in her second year with the program. This year, she ranks second on the team with an average of 9.710. Blauvelt has also set her career high with a 9.775 at Southern Utah and has three scores of 9.750.