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GYMNASTICS FINISHES SECOND AT No. 20 DENVER
2/25/2012
Nicole Meiller set a career high on bars and tied her best on vault at Denver.
DENVER, Colo. — Through three rotations the Sacramento State gymnastics team went toe-to-toe with 20th-ranked Denver on Saturday night at Hamilton Gymnasium. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the final rotation was not as kind and the Pioneers prevailed 196.400-193.750.
Sacramento State was poised for a big score on the road, standing at 145.950 after its first three events. However, the team scored 47.800 on beam with three falls ending its hopes for an upset. Even with the disappointing conclusion, the score will help the team's regional qualifying score, replacing a 191.575.
The Hornets began the meet on bars and scored 48.575. Junior Nicole Meiller anchored the lineup with a career high 9.875 which tied for second in the meet. Ashley Wooff and Cayla Beutler each scored 9.575 to begin the rotation. Kaila Kilwein scored a career high 9.750 before Emiko Ono added a 9.625. Kalliah McCartney matched her career best with a 9.750 leading up to Meiller's performance.
Meiller was also the team leader on vault with a career-high tying 9.825. Along with a 9.800 from McCartney and a 9.750 from Kailey Hansen, Sacramento State finished the event with a team total of 48.700.
On floor, the Hornets scored 48.675 as the first five gymnasts in the order hit. All five scores fell between 9.650 and 9.800. The team was paced by Beutler and McCartney who each scored 9.800.
Sacramento State headed to beam with the chance to score 194-plus as long as the team scored 48.050. The rotation got off to a great start with a 9.725 from freshman Kayla Wonderly in the leadoff spot. Dallas Smith and Elideth Guerrero added 9.650 and 9.675, respectively. From that point, each of the the final three gymnasts in the order fell leaving the team with a score of 47.800.
DU boasted all four event champions as well as the all-around winner. Moriah Martin finished first on vault and floor with a 9.900 on both events. She also totaled 39.425 to capture the all-around. Louise Mercer won bars with a 9.975 and Melodie Pulgarin Linero took beam with a 9.825.
After competing away from home for the last three meets, Sacramento State returns to the Hornets Nest to face Alaska Anchorage on Sunday, March 4. The meet, which will also be Alumni Day, will begin at 1 p.m.
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