CEDAR CITY, Utah — The Sacramento State gymnastics team could not overcome early trouble on beam and finished in third place in a three-team meet on Friday at The Centrum. Host Southern Utah, which entered the meet ranked 21st nationally, scored 195.975 to easily win the team title. BYU was second at 194.000 while the Hornets scored 193.300 — their lowest mark of the year.
Sacramento State opened the meet on beam and encountered falls in each of its first two routines. Those mishaps proved costly as the team finished the rotation with a total of 47.725. Cassie Benning tried to get the Hornets back on track and followed the falls with a career-high tying 9.825 which tied her for third place in the meet. Freshman Jackie Sampson followed with a career best 9.800 and Lauren Rice kept momentum going with a 9.775. Sampson placed fifth while Rice tied for sixth. Kalliah McCartney closed the rotation with a 9.300 after falling during her leap series.
After scoring 49-plus the last two meets, Sacramento State settled for a 48.675 on floor during the second rotation. Jennifer Brenner opened with a 9.725 and was followed by a 9.800 from McCartney. Rice anchored the order and matched McCartney's score as the pair tied for sixth place in the meet. The team also counted a 9.750 from Benning and a 9.600 from Julia Konner.
The third rotation took the Hornets to vault where they totaled 48.625. Megan Kyle started the order with a 9.750 and freshman Lauren Schmeiss trailed with a 9.725. A 9.600 from Caitlin Soliwoda came before a 9.700 from Konner and a season high 9.850 from McCartney who finished second in second place.
Sacramento State closed the meet on bars and scored 48.275 — its highest mark in three weeks. Rice helped the team get off to a good start with a 9.750. After a fall, Alyssa Anderson had a solid routine but had several steps on her dismount resulting in a 9.350. Caitlin Soliwoda and Cassie Benning each scored 9.750 and surrounded a 9.675 from McCartney. The three Hornet gymnasts which scored 9.750 tied for seventh in the meet.
McCartney was one of only two gymnasts to compete in the all-around. BYU's Mackenzie Halliday finished first at 39.175 while McCartney totaled 38.625.
Southern Utah scored its season high to earn the win. The Thunderbirds accounted for at least a share of each individual title. Danielle Ramirez finished first on vault with a 9.875. Memory Shettles received a 9.875 to win bars. Tyly Bozuto tield BYU's Emily Vidmar for first on beam with 9.850s. SUU had four of the top five floor scores led by Natalie Trejo's 9.900.
Sacramento State returns to The Nest to host San Jose State on Friday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m.
TEAM SCORES
1. #21 Southern Utah 195.975
2. BYU 194.000
3. Sacramento State 193.300
VAULT
1. Danielle Ramierez, SUU, 9.875; 2. Kalliah McCartney 9.850; T5. Megan Kyle 9.750; L11. auren Schmeiss 9.725; 12. Julia Konner 9.700; 17. Caitlin Soliwoda 9.600; 18. Jennifer Brenner 9.475.
BARS
1. Memory Shettles, SUU, 9.875; T7. Lauren Rice, Caitlin Soliwoda, Cassie Benning 9.750; 14. Kalliah McCartney 9.675; 16. Alyssa Anderson 9.350.
BEAM
T1, Tyly Bozzuto, SUU; Emily Vidmar, BYU, 9.850; T3. Cassie Benning 9.825; 5. Jackie Sampson 9.800; T6. Lauren Ruce 9.775; 13. Kalliah McCartney 9.300; 14. Julia Konner 9.025; 15. Alyssa Anderson 8.975.
FLOOR
1. Natalie Trejo, SUU, 9.900; T6. Kalliah McCartney, Lauren Rice 9.800; 11. Cassie Benning 9.750; 13. Jennifer Brenner 9.725; 14. Julia Konner 9.600; 16. Jesse Williams 9.375
ALL-AROUND
1. Makenzie Halliday, BYU, 39.175; 2. Kalliah McCartney 38.625.
