SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team posted its most complete meet of the season and set the school record in a 196.475-195.300 win over San Jose State on Friday night at The Nest. The score bettered the previous mark of 196.000 which came last season. The Spartans also set a season high in the meet.
"I told the team at the start of the season that they had the potential to set the school record a couple of times this season," head coach Randy Solorio said. "It's been a little frustrating because we all know how good they are in the gym but we haven't been able to put it all together in a meet. Tonight we did that and you can see the results."
Sacramento State started the meet with a season high 49.000 on vault. Julia Konner led the way with a career-high tying 9.875 to record her third win in the event this season. Kalliah McCartney finished second overall with a 9.850 and Megan Kyle tied for third with a season high 9.800. The Hornets also counted a 9.750 from Lauren Rice and a 9.725 from Caitlin Soliwoda. The team score was tied for the ninth best in school history.
The Hornets destroyed the school record on bars during the second rotation totaling 49.400. The score easily surpassed the previous record of 49.250 which came at the Western Independent Championships in 1999. The Hornets had six scores of at least 9.825 and saw three gymnasts set career bests. Rice opened the rotation with a 9.825 to tie for fifth place overall. Freshman Jackie Sampson followed with a 9.900 and Alyssa Anderson answered with a 9.875 to place second and third, respectively. Soliwoda kept the scores climbing with a 9.950 to grab a share of the school record which was held by Lori Gillette (2002) and Wendy Baisdon (1999). McCartney finished fourth in the meet with a 9.850 and Cassie Benning closed the rotation with a 9.825.
On beam during the third rotation, Sacramento State scored 48.800 with five scores of at least 9.700. After a 9.700 from Julia Konner, Cassie Benning scored a team high 9.825 to tie her personal best. After a fall, the back half of the lineup closed kept the team on pace for a record score with a 9.750 form Soliwoda, a 9.775 from Rice and a 9.750 from McCartney.
The Hornets entered the final rotation needing a score of 48.800 to tie the school record. The team responded with a 49.275 which is tied for the fifth best floor mark in school history and the highest since 2004. Jennifer Brenner started the order with a 9.775 before McCartney matched her career high with a 9.900. Jesse Williams scored 9.825 before Cassie Benning secured the team record with a 9.850 to place third. Rice then closed the meet with a career best 9.925 which ties her for third place in the Hornet record book.
McCartney finished first in the all-around with a 39.350. That mark was her best this season and moved her into a tie for second place in school history behind her own record of 39.375. Rice also set her career high with a four-event total of 39.275 which places her in a tie for 10th place.
Sacramento State will next compete in a four-team meet at Nebraska on Feb. 27. Along with the Hornets and Huskers, the meet will include Bridgeport and Northern Illinois.
TEAM SCORES
1. Sacramento State 196.475
2. San Jose State 195.300
VAULT
1. Julia Konner, SAC, 9.875; 2. Kalliah McCartney 9.850; T3. Megan Kyle 9.80; 6. Lauren Rice 9.750; T7. Caitlin Soliwoda 9.725; 12. Jennifer Brenner 9.550.
BARS
1. Caitlin Soliwoda, SAC, 9.850; 2. Jackie Sampson 9.900; 3. Alyssa Anderson 9.875; 4. Kalliah McCartney 9.850; T5. Lauren Rice, Cassie Benning 9.825.
BEAM
1. Maddie Herr, SJSU, 9.850; T2. Cassie Benning 9.825; 4. Lauren Rice 9.775; T5. Caitlin Soliwoda, Kalliah McCartney 9.750; T8. Julia Konner 9.700; 11. Jackie Sampson 9.200.
FLOOR
1. Lauren Rice 9.925; 2. Kalliah McCartney 9.900; 3. Cassie Benning 9.850; 6. Jesse Williams 9.825; T8. Jennifer Brenner 9.775; 12. Julia Konner 9.200.
ALL-AROUND
1. Kalliah McCartney 39.350; 3. Lauren Rice 39.275.
