The victory improved Sacramento State to 15-8 on the season and gave the team its fourth conference championship in the last five years. The Hornets won the Western Independent Conference in 2000 and 2001 and added MPSF crowns in 2002 and 2003 before finishing second to San Jose State last season. Friday’s victory also moved the Hornets into sixth place in the NCAA’s West Region.

Aside from the individual victories, Sacramento State also received top-three finishes from Jessica Hoffman (second on bars), Zaher (second on floor), and Aeder and Melissa Genovese who tied for second on beam.

Sacramento State opened the night as spectators, drawing a bye in the first rotation. The team began its competition on the floor in the second rotation where Carrie Kinghorn scored 9.650 in the opening routine. Following a 9.400 from Kimiye Narasaki, Trista Condren scored 9.650 to put the team back on track. Hoffman kept the momentum rolling with a 9.600 before Zaher scored 9.775. Aeder completed the lineup with a 9.800. Aeder’s score lifted the team’s total to 48.475 for the rotation.

The Hornets moved to vault in the third rotation where Kinghorn, once again, opened the lineup. The junior tied her career high with a 9.700 and was followed by Genovese who scored a career beset 9.650. Senior Meloney Greer added a 9.550 before freshman Nicole Giao scored 9.700. Hoffman continued the Hornets’ strong showing with a 9.650 before Zaher ended the lineup with a season-high 9.850. As a team, Sacramento State scored 48.575 which moved the team into first place with a two-event total of 97.050.

The Hornets took their second bye of the meet during the fourth rotation but returned to bars in the fifth rotation. Zaher and Kinghorn opened the lineup with back-to-back scores of 9.675. Narasaki added a 9.725 before Hoffman scored 9.800. Greer tallied a 9.700 and freshman Alexis Tsurumoto capped the rotation with a career-high 9.900 to win the individual title. As a team, the Hornets scored 48.800 which extended their lead over San Jose State to 1.65 points heading into the final rotation (145.850-144.200).

Sacramento State turned to beam for its final event and closed the door on the competition. Condren started the rotation off with a 9.750. Kinghorn completed her all-around effort with a 9.450 on beam, raising her all-around score to a career-best 38.475. Zaher followed with a 9.700 and won the all-around title with a season-best total of 39.025. Aeder assured the Hornets of the team title by tying her career high with a 9.850. Narasaki responded with a 9.500 before Genovese concluded the evening with a 9.850. The Hornets scored 48.650 on beam, the highest score of the season for the team and the seventh-best score in school history.

Zaher tied for first on vault with Alaska Anchorage’s Dominique Ingram. UC Davis’ Tiffany Chan finished first on beam with a 9.875.

NOTES: Prior to the meet, Zaher was named co-MPSF Gymnast of the Year along with SJSU’s Jennifer Greene. Zaher became just the second Hornet to earn the award, joining Jenny Diamond (2003).

The MPSF also announced its all-conference team on Saturday, The first and second team included one member from all six schools based upon the gymnast’s regular season RQS. Sacramento State’s first team selections were Zaher (vault), Tsurumoto (bars), Genovese (beam) and Aeder (floor). The second team was represented by Hoffman (vault, floor), Greer (bars), Narasaki (beam) and Zaher (floor).

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