GYMNASTICS IN SEARCH OF THIRD WAC TITLE IN LAST FIVE YEARS ON SATURDAY

3/25/2010

OPENING PASS
• The Sacramento State gymnastics team will close out its 2010 regular season at the Western Athletic Conference Championships hosted by Cal State Fullerton on Sat., March 27, at 6 p.m. The Hornets enter the meet with a 7-11 overall record and tied for third in the WAC during the regular season with a 2-3 conference mark.
• The team is coming off its best showing of the year, recording a total of 194.650 in a win at Utah State on March 19. The Hornets scored at least 48.325 on all four events, including a 49.275 on beam.
• Since the WAC returned to hosting a gymnastics championship in 2006, only Sacramento State and Boise State have won team titles. The Hornets finished first in 2006 and 2007 and the Broncos won the past two seasons.
• Last season’s championships were held at the Hornets Nest. BSU scored 196.525 and was followed by Sacramento State (195.350), Southern Utah (195.175) and San Jose State (194.875) in the top five.

THE LAST TIME OUT
Sacramento State stretched its winning streak to 10 over Utah State with a 194.650-192.050 victory at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Sacramento State led following each of the four rotations. The Hornets opened the meet on bars and scored 48.425 compared to Utah State’s 48.175 on vault. The Aggies narrowed the gap during the second rotation with a 48.550 on bars while Sacramento State tallied 48.325 on vault.

The third rotation took the Hornets to floor where the team recorded a total of 48.625. While Sacramento State on floor, USU had its troubles on beam. The team was forced to count scores of 9.125 and 8.675 and finished with a total of 46.900. The Hornets cemented the victory during the fourth rotation with their stellar showing on beam.

BOYCE LEADS BEAM BARRAGE, EARNS WAC HONOR
Led by Cayla Boyce’s career high 9.900, Sacramento State closed out its meet at Utah State with an amazing beam scored of 49.275. That mark ranks second in school history and was the best by a Sacramento State team since a 49.325 was recorded at the 2007 WAC Championships.

For her efforts, Boyce was named the WAC Specialist of the Week for the first time this season. She also picked up her fifth win of the year on beam.

Against USU, the final five Hornets scored at least 9.825 and each set or tied their season high. Jasmine Lipka began the order with a career high 9.825 which was followed by the same score from Lizzy Norvell. Boyce then received a 9.90 from both judges for her career mark and senior Traci Takeda followed with a 9.875. Eryn Stubblefield anchored the lineup with a 9.850.

WAC RECAP
Since joining the WAC in 2006, Sacramento State has continually been one of the top teams in the conference. The Hornets won the first two team titles and added a second place showing last year. In 2006, Sacramento State scored 193.950 to edge Boise State (193.775) for the top spot. That year, Marina Borisova won her first floor title. In 2007, the Hornets bettered Southern Utah (195.275-195.225) at Cedar City, Utah, with the help of individual victories from Borisova (floor) and Melissa Genovese (beam).

The team’s lowest finish came in 2008 where it placed fourth. That season, the top five teams were separated by just .65 points as Boise State was first at 194.925. Last season, the Hornets jumped to second place with a 195.350 and a win from Amber Basgall on bars. BSU won its second team title with a score of 196.525.

REGIONAL RUNDOWN
Behind its season-high performance, Sacramento State vaulted two spots in the latest rankings into 40th place. However, the Hornets are still a long shot to make the NCAA regionals as they own an RQS of 193.525. San Jose State currently holds the final spot with an RQS of 193.970.
However, if the season ended today, the Hornets would still have representation at UCLA for the West Regional. Stubblefield would claim one of the five all-around spots and Cayla Boyce would go as the beam specialist. Stubblefield is 12th overall in the West Region ­— and third among non-qualifying teams — with an all-around RQS of 38.660. Boyce owns an RQS of 9.810 on beam to tie for 12th in the region.