DAVIS, Calif. — Senior Kalliah McCartney finished second in the all-around to lead Sacramento State at the NorCal Classic on Sunday at The Pavilion on the UC Davis campus. The Hornets scored 193.450 as a team in its season opening meet to tie for fourth place.
Cal, which entered the season ranked 14th nationally, scored 195.175 to win the meet. UC Davis finished second at 194.350, San Jose State was third (194.050) and No. 10 Stanford tied the Hornets for fourth place.
"The fact that we had a lot of freshmen competing and a number of potential starters out with injuries, I'm happy with the overall team performance," Sacramento State head coach Kim Hughes said. "We had very few missed routines but unfortunately counted a fall which prevented us from finishing higher. We have work to do, and need to clean some things up, but it was a good performance."
In the all-around, McCartney totaled 39.000 and was one of just two gymnasts to break the 39-point plateau. Stanford's Taylor Rice captured the all-around title with a 39.350. The Hornets were also represented by freshman Lauren Rice who scored 38.550 to finish sixth.
After a bye in the opening rotation, Sacramento State began on bars where it scored 48.375. Cassie Benning received a 9.775 to tie for sixth overall to lead the Hornets. She was followed by a 9.700 from senior Kayla Wonderly and a 9.675 from McCartney.
On beam, Wonderly, freshman Courtney Soliwoda and Benning each scored 9.675 in the opening three routines. McCartney paced the team with a 9.750 and was closely followed by a 9.725 from Alyssa Anderson.
Sacramento State moved to floor in the fourth rotation where it scored 48.825. The first four gymnasts in the lineup each scored 9.700 or better led by a 9.825 from freshman Annie Juarez and a 9.750 from McCartney. Benning anchored the lineup with a career-high tying 9.825 to match Juarez and tie for fifth place in the meet.
The Hornets encountered its first trouble of the meet on vault during the final rotation. The team counted a fall resulting in a score of 47.750. McCartney received a 9.825 to tie for fifth overall. Her score, which came on the final vault for the team, also drew Sacramento State even with the Cardinal for the first time in school history. Juarez added a 9.750 and Rice had a 9.650.
Sacramento State will have its home opener on Friday. Jan. 9, when it welcomes California at 7 p.m.
TEAM SCORES
1. No. 14 California 195.175
2. UC Davis 194.350
3. San Jose State 194.350
T4. SACRAMENTO STATE 193.450
T4. No. 10 Stanford 193.450
VAULT
1. Elizabeth Price, Stanford, 9.950; T5. Kalliah McCartney 9.825; T15. Annie Juarez 9.750; T21. Lauren Rice 9.650; 25. Emily Bolton 9.050; 26. Julia Konner 9.050; T27. Tina Necas 8.900.
BARS
T1. Amber Tanaka, Toni-Ann Williams, Cal, 9.850; T6. Cassie Benning 9.775; 14. Kayla Wonderly 9.700; T15. Kalliah McCartney 9.675; T19. Courtney Soliwoda 9.625; T22. Lauren Rice 9.600; 29. Brennan Bailes 8.550.
BEAM
1. Stephanie Stamates, UCD, 9.850; T11. Kalliah McCartney 9.750; T14. Alyssa Anderson 9.725; T19. Cassie Benning, Courtney Soliwoda, Kayla Wonderly 9.675; T27. Lauren Rice 9.600.
FLOOR
1. Toni-Ann Williams, Cal, 9.875; T5. Cassie Benning, Annie Juarez 9.825; T12. Kalliah McCartney 9.750; T15. Julia Konner 9.725; 18. Lauren Rice 9.700; 22. Dallas Smith 9.650.
ALL-AROUND
1. Taylor Rice, Stanford, 39.350; 2. Kalliah McCartney 39.000; 6. Lauren Rice 38.550.
