GYMNASTICS HOPES TO EXTEND WINNING STREAK AT CAL STATE FULLERTON ON FRIDAY

2/17/2011

OPENING PASS
• Following back-to-back victories and its two highest scores of the season, the Sacramento State gymnastics team will look to continue its midseason surge at Cal State Fullerton on Friday, Feb. 18, at Titan Gym.
• The Hornets enter the week with a 4-4 overall record after defeating Utah State on Feb. 11. In the meet, Amanda Blauvelt (bars) and Kailey Hansen (floor) each captured individual victories to help the team to a 192.000 score.
• Friday’s meet at Fullerton will mark the final regular season contest away from home for the Hornets before the team competes at the Western Athletic Conference Championships on March 19 at San Jose State. After this week, the team has three home meets remaining on the schedule.
• The one downside of having just one road meet left is that the team is in search a big score to help boost its RQS. As of now, Sacramento State has a high away from home of 192.900 but is averaging 190.869 in five meets.
• Cal State Fullerton has competed in just three meets this season and is averaging 187.525. Most recently, the Titans fell at home to Southern Utah, 193.000-187.275. Senior Shelly Cooper finished first on vault in the meet with a 9.800.
• The all-time series favors Cal State Fullerton, 18-12. The Titans also hold a commanding 10-1 mark against the Hornets in meets at Titan Gym.
 
EMPTY ALL-AROUND
For the second time this season, Sacramento State was without an all-arounder. Against Utah State, senior Amanda Blauvelt was slated to perform in all four events but was a late scratch on floor due to an ankle injury. Prior to re-aggrivating the injury on beam, Blauvelt was putting together one of her best meets of the season. She began with a 9.625 on vault (just .025 off her season best) and then finished first on bars with a career best 9.850.

Blauvelt is the only Hornet compete in the all-around this season. The Wall, N.J., native has a high of 38.100 which came at California.

Freshman Kaila Kilwein is the only other Sacramento State gymnast to compete in all four events, but has yet do to it in the same meet.

BIG NUMBERS ON FLOOR
Freshman Kailey Hansen also played a critical role in the team’s win over Utah State. Hansen led the team on vault (9.725) and floor (9.875) while claiming the event title on floor in the process. The Ventura, Calif., native now owns three scores of at least 9.775 on floor during the season and is averaging 9.679 in the event this season.

Senior Jasmine Lipka currently leads the team with an average of 9.767 on floor in her three routines this season. Lipka scored 9.875 at Cal and followed that effort with a 9.850 against Utah State.

NOTEWORTHY
Nicole Meiller is expected to return to the lineup on vault and bars for the first time since Jan. 21. Meiller scored 9.800 in her last bar routine and was an NCAA qualifier on vault as a freshman in 2010.