TUCSON, Ariz. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team scored season highs on bars and floor but also counted a fall on beam en route to scoring a 193.350 on Friday night. The team finished second in the four-team meet, trailing 18th-ranked Arizona (195.250) and topping Illinois-Chicago (187.300) and Wisconsin-Stout (181.175).
Despite the Hornets scoring a season low, the team is still off to its best start through three meets in school history. Sacramento State is currently averaging 193.683 which breaks the previous high of 193.283 from 2013.
The team began the meet on bars and responded with a season high 48.600. The Hornets counted five scores of at least 9.625 led by a 9.800 from Kalliah McCartney who tied for third place in the meet. Cassie Benning was closely behind with a 9.750 and Kayla Wonderly added a 9.725 to place fifth and tied for sixth, respectively. The final scores came from Lauren Rice (9.700) and Courtney Soliwoda (9.625).
Sacramento State suffered a slip-up on beam with two falls resulting in a team score of 47.525. McCartney tied for third place overall with a 9.725. Rice (9.700), Courtney Soliwoda (9.675) and Wonderly (9.625) also added to the team total.
The Hornets bounced back on floor with a 48.950. Benning and freshman Annie Juarez continued their great start to the season with each scoring 9.850 to tie for second place. Konner, Rice, and Dallas Smith each scored 9.750 to tie for eighth place and give the team its highest score in the event since a 49.075 against San Jose State and Cal on Feb. 14 of last season.
Sacramento State concluded the meet on vault with a 48.275. Konner and Rice paced the team with a pair of 9.775s which tied the duo for fourth place. The freshmen trio of Juarez (9.650), Caitlin Soliwoda (9.625) and Jennifer Brenner (9.450) completed the scorers for the Hornets on the event.
Rice finished second in the all-around for the second consecutive meet. The Las Vegas, Nev., native totaled 39.825 to finish slightly behind Arizona's Allison Flores (38.950) for the top spot.
Arizona claimed the top individual on all four events. Shelby Edwards finished first on vault with a 9.875. Krysten Howard and Victoria Ortiz tied for the top spot on bars with a 9.875s. Shay Fox scored 9.850 to win beam and Flores had the high mark on floor with a 9.875.
Sacramento State returns home to host UC Davis on Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m.
NOTES: McCartney only competed on bars and beam while continuing to rest a sore ankle…the team faced UIC and UW-Stout for the first time…the meet also marked the Hornets' first appearance at Arizona since 1985.
TEAM RESULTS
1. Arizona 195.250
2. Sacramento State 193.350
3. Illinois-Chicago 187.300
4. Wisconsin-Stout 181.175
VAULT
1. Shelby Edwards, UA, 9.875; T4. Lauren Rice, Julia Konner 9.775; T9. Annie Juarez 9.650; 13. Caitlin Soliwoda 9.625; T16. Jennifer Brenner 9.450; 19. Tina Necas 9.400.
BARS
T1. Krysten Howard, Victoria Ortiz, UA, 9.875; 3. Kalliah McCartney 9.800; 5. Cassie Benning 9.750; T6. Kayla Wonderly 9.725; T8. Lauren Rice 9.700; T12. Caitlin Soliwoda 9.625; 20. Alyssa Anderson 8.750.
BEAM
1. Shay Fox, UA, 9.850; T3. Kalliah McCartney 9.725; T5. Lauren Rice 9.700; 7. Courtney Soliwoda 9.675; 8. Kayla Wonderly 9.625; 17. Cassie Benning 8.800; 19. Alyssa Anderson 8.700.
FLOOR
1. Allison Flores, UA, 9.875; T2. Annie Juarez, Cassie Benning 9.850; T8. Julia Konner, Lauren Rice, Dallas Smith, 9.750; 21. Jennifer Brenner 8.400.
ALL-AROUND
1. Allison Flores, UA, 38.950; 2. Lauren Rice 38.925.
