SEASON HIGH LEADS GYMNASTICS TO 194.750-193.000 VICTORY OVER SAN JOSE STATE
1/27/2012
Emiko Ono finished first on vault and tied for third on bars to help the Hornets to a win over San Jose State.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team scored a season high to defeat San Jose State, 194.750-193.000, Friday night at the Hornets Nest in a Western Athletic Conference meet.
The Hornets' score bettered their previous season high of 191.875 which was set last weekend at Boise State. The team scored at least 48.325 on all four events, including a 49.125 on floor which ranks eighth in program history.
Individually, Emiko Ono set a career high with a 9.825 on vault to finish first. Freshman Kalliah McCartney had the top score on beam (9.875) and sophomore Kailey Hansen won floor with a 9.900 — both career highs.
Sacramento State opened the meet on vault with a 48.550. All six gymnasts scored at least 9.600 with McCartney (9.775, tied for third) and Hansen (9.750, sixth) joining Ono among the leaders. The Hornets took an early lead after the first rotation after the Spartans were forced to count a fall on bars, resulting in a 48.225.
SJSU made up the difference during the second rotation to force a tie at the midway point of the meet. Sacramento State scored 48.325 on bars led by 9.750s from Ono and Nicole Meiller to tie for third. McCartney also set a career high in the event with a 9.725.
After a rough start to the season on beam, Sacramento State went 6-for-6 against the Spartans to score a season high 48.750. Freshman Kayla Wonderly opened with a career best 9.700 to place sixth. She was followed by a career high 9.600 from freshman Dallas Smith who was eighth. The back half of the lineup secured the high score as Cayla Beutler received a 9.750 and Kailey Hansen scored a career best 9.850 before McCartney won for the third time this season in four meets. The team score was the highest for Sacramento State since scoring 49.275 on beam at Utah State on March 19, 2010.
The Spartans took a .175 point lead into the final rotation after totaling 48.925 on floor led by 9.850s from Thomasina Wallace and Katie Valleau. That lead, however, was short-lived as San Jose State counted a pair of falls on beam and the Hornets produced their best floor performance since 2005.
Sacramento State got off to a great start as sophomore Kaila Kilwein scored 9.825 in the opening performance. Smith immediately added a 9.725 before Osaki scored 9.800. Beutler increased the effort with a 9.875 and Hansen closed things out with a 9.900 (including a 9.95 from one judge). In all, Hansen, Beutler, Kilwein and Smith each set a career mark during the night.
Wallace was the dominant force for SJSU. The senior scored 39.375 to win the all-around. Wallace was second on vault (9.800), first on bars (9.875), second on beam (9.850) and tied for third on floor (9.850).
McCartney was second in the all-around with a four-event total of 38.500. The freshman was on pace for a career high before a fall on floor.
Sacramento State returns to action on Friday, Jan. 3, against Southern Utah. The meet will start at 7 p.m. at the Hornets Nest.
Team Results
1) Sacramento State 194.750
2) San Jose State 193.000
