GYMNASTICS TREKS TO UTAH STATE FOR FRIDAY NIGHT WAC MATCHUP

3/17/2010

OPENING PASS
• The Sacramento State gymnastics team will compete in its final dual meet of the season when the team travels to Logan, Utah, to take on Utah State on Friday, March 19. Following this week, the only meet remaining on the schedule will be the WAC Championships on March 27 at Cal State Fullerton.
• The Hornets enter the meet with a 6-11 overall record and a 1-3 mark in Western Athletic Conference meets.
• Sacramento State leads the all-time series against USU, 10-4. The Hornets have won the last nine meetings between the two teams, including wins at home during the regular season and the WAC Championships last season.
• The Hornets have had recent success at Utah State, winning their first WAC title in 2006 and recording a season-opening win in 2008.
• The Aggies bring a 1-15 overall record and 0-4 WAC mark into the meet. However, the team is coming off of a season high 193.725 score in their last meet. That contest marked the first time since Jan. 22 that the injury-plagued USU had competed six gymnasts in each event.
• Live results from the meet are available by selecting the “Live Stats” link located under “Multimedia” at www.UtahStateAggies.com. There will also be a video stream which can be purchased for $9.95.

THE LAST TIME OUT
Eryn Stubblefield won beam and the all-around and Jasmine Lipka finished first on floor to lead Sacramento State to a 192.600-191.550 victory over Texas Woman’s at the Hornets Nest.

Sacramento State trailed through the first three rotations but closed on floor with a team score of 48.575 while TWU scored 47.175 on beam. The Hornets had all six gymnasts score 9.550 or better on floor and counted five scores ranging from 9.600 to Lipka’s 9.800.

The team opened the meet on vault and scored 48.025. Traci Takeda, Nicole Meiller and Eryn Stubblefield each recorded marks of 9.675 to lead the team and tie for fourth overall.

The Pioneers began with a 48.125 on vault and stretched their lead to 96.675-95.950 following the second rotation. Brittany Johnson scored 9.825 on bars to finish first overall while Marcella Fallon led a top-three sweep on vault with a 9.775.

Sacramento State scored 49.925 on bars and was forced to count a fall. Freshman Nicole Meiller and senior Lauren Dyson were second and third overall with 9.750 and 9.700, respectively.

The Hornets were able to narrow the gap during the third rotation, scoring 48.075 on beam compared to TWU’s 47.700 on floor. Sacramento State claimed the top two spots in the standings and had three of the top four finishers in the event. Along with Stubblefield’s 9.800, Takeda scored 9.750 and Lipka received a 9.625.

The comeback was completed on floor with the help of the top three individual scores of the night. Lipka captured her second floor title this season with a 9.800. Cayla Boyce was second at 9.775 and Stubblefield was third with a 9.750.

MY, MY, MEILLER
Over the past month, there has been no one more consistent on vault and bars for Sacramento State than Nicole Meiller. Since Jan. 29, the freshman has averaged 9.720 on vault and 9.730 on bars with no score falling below 9.650 or above 9.775. Her overall season average of 9.706 on bars now leads the team.

REGIONAL RUNDOWN
The Hornets’ hopes of returning the NCAA regionals were likely dashed last week with a score of 192.600 against TWU. Sacramento State is currently 42nd nationally with an RQS of 193.200. The top 36 teams advance to the postseason and San Jose State currently holds the final spot with an RQS of 193.835.
    However, if the season ended today, the Hornets would still have reprensentation at UCLA for the West Regional. Senior Eryn Stubblefield would claim one of the five all-around spots and Cayla Boyce would go as the beam specialist. Stubblefield is 13th overall in the West Region ­— and third among non-qualifying teams — with an all-around RQS of 38.485. Boyce owns an RQS of 9.790 on beam to tie for 12th in the region.