GYMNASTICS COMES UP SHORT IN SEASON OPENER AGAINST CAL; THREE HORNETS WIN TITLES
1/6/2012
Freshman Kalliah McCartney finished first on beam and second in the all-around during her first collegiate competition.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —Nicole Meiller, Kalliah McCartney and Kailey Hansen each won an individual event title but the Hornet gymnastics team was edged by California, 190.375-189.725, Friday night at the Hornets Nest.
Meiller tied Cal's Madisyn O'Brien on bars as each athlete scored 9.650. McCartney was victorious on beam in her first collegiate meet with a 9.750. Hansen earned her fourth career floor title in two seasons with a 9.700.
The Hornets held a small lead after the first rotation, scoring 47.900 on vault compared to the Golden Bears' 47.175 on bars. Sacramento State was led by McCartney with a 9.675 which tied for second. Sophomore Katie Osaki scored 9.650 to place fourth overall.
Cal jumped ahead after the second rotation aided by a rough showing on bars by the Hornets. The Golden Bears scored 48.225 on vault while Sacramento State managed just 46.325. The team counted just one fall on bars but was hurt by extremely tight tight scoring. Senior Emiko Ono ranked second on the team behind Meiller with a 9.375 to place fifth in the meet.
The Hornets made up some ground on beam behind a 47.975. McCartney was followed by senior Cayla Beutler who tied for third with a 9.625. Kailey Hansen and Mary Peck added a 9.575 and 9.525, respectively.
Sacramento State closed the meet out on floor with a 47.525. Hansen, who was the meet's final performer, continued where she left off in 2011. The sophomore, who finished fifth at the NCAA Corvallis Regional, edged Cal's Mariesah Pierce (9.675) for the top spot. Beutler was third overall with a 9.600 and Osaki placed fifth with a 9.550.
O'Brien was the all-around champion with a four-event total of 38.625. McCartney placed second at 37.950.
Sacramento State will next compete at the NorCal Quad meet hosted by Stanford on Sunday, Jan. 15. The meet will consist of Sacramento State, San Jose State, UC Davis and Stanford.
NOTES: Sacramento State has broken 190.000 in the opening meet of the season once in the last five years…only six of the 12 gymnasts on bars scored better than 9.125…all five Hornet freshmen performed in the meet, combining for six counting scores…Beutler (formerly Boyce) had two top three finishes in her first action since 2010…the majority of the team's routines can be seen at www.facebook.com/sacstategymnastics.
