GYMNASTICS IMPROVES ON SEASON HIGH, FINISHES THIRD AT STANFORD

2/7/2010

STANFORD, Calif. — For the third consecutive meet, the Sacramento State gymnastics team posted a season high. Sunday, the Hornets scored 193.225 to finish third in a four-team meet hosted by Stanford.

The meet was won by the 8th-ranked Cardinal who scored 196.650. Washington, which was 24th in the latest rankings, was second at 194.075. San Jose State finished fourth with a total of 192.800.

Along with posting its highest point total of the year, Sacramento State also scored season highs on vault and bars. The Hornets opened the meet on floor and tallied 48.175. The team was led by junior Jasmine Lipka's career high of 9.750 which tied her for 11th overall. Junior Lissa Zamolo posted a season best of 9.700 and was matched by freshman Bethany Barrick. The Hornets also counted scores of 9.525 from senior Eryn Stubblefield and 9.500 from sophomore Cayla Boyce.

The Hornets next turned to vault where a revamped lineup easily led to the team's best mark of the year. Sacramento State, which averaged 47.373 in the first three meets, posted a total of 48.200 on Sunday. All six Hornet gymnasts scored between 9.500 and 9.725. The group was guided by Stubblefield and senior Traci Takeda who each scored 9.725 to tie for eighth overall. The score for Stubblefield was a career best while Takeda established a season high. Junior Amanda Blauvelt made her 2010 debut with a score of 9.625 and junior Amanda Bieber recorded a 9.575. Sophomore Chantal Angyal also had a season best with a 9.550.

Sacramento State continued its consistency on bars with five scores ranging between 9.650 and 9.800 for a total of 48.550. Blauvelt tied for sixth overall with a career high tying score of 9.800. Senior Lauren Dyson ranked second on the team with a season best 9.725 and was followed by Takeda's career high of 9.700. The team also counted scores from Stubblefield (9.675) and Lipka (9.650).

The Hornets closed out the meet on beam and scored 48.300. Takeda scored a season high 9.775 and tied for fifth overall. Boyce tied for seventh at 9.750 and Lipka finished tied for 10th at 9.675. Lizzy Norvell's 9.575 and Stubblefield's 9.525 rounded out the lineup.

Stanford accounted for every individual title in the meet. Ashley Morgan was first on vault with a 9.875 and tied for the top spot on beam (9.875). Carly Janiga and Allyse Ishino each scored 9.925 to tie for first on bars. Shelly Alexander and Danielle Ikoma joined Morgan atop the podium for beam and Nicole Pechanec scored 9.925 to win on floor.

Morgan also won the all-around title with a four-event total of 39.450. Stubblefield was the Hornets' lone all-arounder and scored 38.450 to finish seventh.

Sacramento State will next compete at Boise State on Friday, Feb. 12.

TEAM SCORES: 1. Stanford 196.650; 2. Washington 194.075; 3. Sacramento State 193.225; 4. San Jose State 192.800.
VAULT: Morgan, Stanford, 9.875; T8. Stubblefield, Takeda, 9.725; 15. Blauvelt 9.625; 17. Bieber 9.575; T18. Angyal 9.550; 22. Ono 9.500.
BARS: 1. Janiga, Ishino, Stanford, 9.925; T6. Blauvelt 9.800; T13. Dyson 9.725; T15. Takeda 9.700; T18. Stubblefield 9.675; 20. Lipka 9.650; 24. Ono 8.350.
BEAM: Morgan, Alexander, Stanford, 9.875; T5. Takeda 9.775; T7. Boyce 9.750; T10. Lipka 9.675; T15. Norvell 9.575; 17. Stubblefield 9.525; 21. Zamolo 9.075.
FLOOR: Pechanec, Stanford, 9.925; T11. Lipka 9.750; T16. Zamolo, Barrick, 9.700; 22. Stubblefield 9.525; 23. Boyce 9.500; 24. Kinser 8.350.
AA: Morgan, Stanford, 39.450; 7. Stubblefield 38.450.