Freshman Nirvana Zaher |
SEATTLE -- Freshman Nirvana Zaher recorded a career and program-high 9.925 on beam to lead the Hornets to a 194.475-192.050 win over Seattle Pacific Friday evening at Brougham Pavilion. The team''s mark was the second-highest score in program history.The Hornets are now 5-4 on the year while the Falcons fell to 2-5.
Zaher, a native of Cairo, Egypt, shattered the previous program high of 9.875 set by sophomore Binta Coleman and former Hornet Elizabeth Lutz on March 24, 2001 at the Western Independent Championships. Zaher,who missed the first two meets of the season due to transcript clearance, also recorded a season-high 9.75 on floor.
The team''s score of 48.800 on beam was a season high and also broke the 48 point barrier for the first time this season. In three of the last five meets the Hornets had five of six competitors fall off the apparatus.
Junior Toni Petersen placed first on bars with a score of 9.825. The Fresno, Calif., native also placed first in the all-around with a score of 38.900. It is the fourth-consecutive meet in which she has led the squad in all-around competition.
Baisdon tied for second on bars with a score of 9.75. The Ceres, Calif., native competed for the first time on bars since suffering an ACL injury during pre-meet warm-ups on March 17, 2001. It was the first time she has finished in the top spot in an event this season.
Senior Melissa Presscott recorded a 9.75 on beam to place tied for fourth. It was the first competion for the Elk Grove, Calif., native since spraining her ankle at the Maui Invitational on Jan. 4.
Freshman Stefanie Aeder placed second on vault with a career-high 9.725 and third on floor with a 9.8.
Also placing well for the Hornets were freshman Meloney Greer (9.75, second) on bars and junior Jenny Diamond (9.65, third) on vault.
The Hornets will look to continue their rise in the West Region rankings when the squad hosts Cal on Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m. in Hornet Gym.
