GENOVESE TIES SCHOOL BEAM RECORD IN UPSET OF #15 SOUTHERN UTAH
2/15/2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Senior Melissa Genovese tied the school record on beam and finished first on floor as Sacramento State defeated 15th-ranked Southern Utah, 194.675-193.300, Friday night at the Hornets Nest. The final score was the highest by the Hornets this season and allowed the team to defeat its highest-ranked opponent in school history.
“I’ve been telling this team from the start of the year that they were this good,” head coach Kim Hughes said. “They proved it tonight. We still weren’t perfect and have room to grow.”
Genovese sparked a near flawless run by Sacramento State (4-3) during the final two rotations. The El Dorado Hills native anchored the team’s beam lineup and posted a career best 9.925. Her mark tied Nirvana Zaher’s school record from 2002 and bettered Genovese’s previous high of 9.900 — which most recently came at last season’s WAC Championships where she also finished first.
“Melissa’s been on the verge of this score for a while,” Hughes said. “It takes team momentum, her performance and the judges for this to happen. Tonight, the team set her up perfectly, she was excellent and the judges recognized her effort.”
Genovese continued her momentum on floor with a 9.850 to record her first floor victory of her four-year career.
Southern Utah staked an early lead in the meet following the first rotation. The Thunderbirds began with a 9.750 on bars from Tehani Douglas and added a 9.825 from Jenna Vogt and a 9.850 from Ari Lamb in the next two routines. After two falls, Erin Morgan ended the rotation with a 9.800. SUU’s team score of 48.575 on bars gave the team a .325 edge after the first rotation.
Sacramento State opened on vault and was paced by Alycia Chan and Marina Borisova who tied for the event high with a 9.750. The first-place tie marked the fourth time this season that Chan has at least tied for a share of the title this season on vault and stretched her streak to three straight meets. The team score of 48.250 tied for the season high.
The score gap narrowed after the second rotation but still saw the Thunderbirds in the lead. Southern Utah scored 48.375 on vault behind Melissa Johnson’s 9.750 to tie for first place. Elise Wheeler also added a 9.725.
The Hornets countered with a 48.575 on bars and did not count a score below 9.625. Borisova tied for the event title with Vogt with a 9.825 and Amber Basgall placed fifth with a 9.775.
Sacramento State took its first lead after the third rotation and held on for the remainder of the event. The Hornets got off to a strong start with career high performances from Traci Takeda (9.750) and Alycia Chan (9.800) to start the rotation. Sophomore Lizzy Norvell continued her hot steak with a 9.800 and was followed with a 9.725 from Eryn Stubblefield. The final score came from Genovese and drew the loudest ovation of the night from the Hornet faithful. A four-year starter on beam, Genovese has now scored at least 9.900 three times during her career. The team score of 49.000 is the best this season and ranks third in school history only behind the top two scores from last year.
While the Hornets surged on beam, Southern Utah scored 48.475 on floor. Shannon Coughlin led the team with a 9.750 which placed fourth overall.
The final rotation capped the night for Sacramento State. The team counted five scores of at least 9.700 en route to a season best 48.850. Amber Basgall led off the lineup and tallied a 9.625 due to a neutral deduction for stepping out. Her routine was followed by Nicole Giao’s 9.700 and a career high 9.825 from Chan. Stubblefield added a career best 9.775 to begin the back half of the lineup before Genovese scored 9.850. Borisova closed out the meet with a 9.700.
The Thunderbirds ended with a 47.875 on beam but received a 9.900 from Kellie Dangerfield who placed second.
Borisova finished first in the all-around with a four-event total of 38.950. Vogt was second at 38.925 while Stubblefield claimed third at 38.825.
Sacramento State will travel to Boise State to take on the 21st-ranked Broncos next Friday, Feb. 22. The team’s next home meet will come against Alaska Anchorage at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 2.
SACRAMENTO STATE 194.675, #15 SOUTHERN UTAH 193.300
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
