LINCOLN, Neb. — Senior Kalliah McCartney tied for first place on vault and finished third in the all-around as Sacramento State finished second at the Masters Classic on Saturday night. The Hornets scored 194.875 as a team to trail only 14th-ranked Nebraska (196.400). Northern Illinois was third at 194.350 while Bridgeport finished fourth at 193.225.
Sacramento State began the night on beam and despite counting a fall, scored 48.425 during the rotation. Julia Konner opened with a 9.650 and was followed by a 9.800 from Cassie Benning. After a fall, freshman Jackie Sampson put the team back on track with a 9.775. Sophomore Lauren Rice also fell on beam but still managed to receive a 9.400 before McCartney closed things out with a 9.800 of her own.
The Hornets were limited to just five gymnasts on floor as senior Jesse Williams injured her troublesome ankle and was scratched from the lineup. Brenner and Konner each scored 9.625 with a 9.825 from McCartney sandwiched between. Benning followed with a 9.675 which included a one-tenth deduction for stepping out of bounds. Rice completed the scores with a 9.800.
Sacramento State surged during the final two rotations with a total of 48.950 on both vault and bars. Brenner opened the vault lineup with a 9.525 and was followed by five scores of at least 9.725. The scores progressed beginning with a 9.725 from freshman Lauren Schmeiss. Megan Kyle and Rice tied for sixth in the meet with 9.750s. Konner finished fifth with a 9.850 which came a week after she finished first in the event. McCartny tied Nebraska's Danielle Breen and Hollie Blanske and Bridgeport's Ajiea Hargrave for first place with a 9.875.
On bars, all six Hornets scored 9.750 or better. Rice started with a 9.775 before Sampson added a 9.825 to tie for second place in the meet. Alyssa Anderson and Courtney Soliwoda each scored 9.750 and McCartney contributed a 9.775. Benning ended the night with a 9.825 to tie Sampson for second.
McCartney totaled 39.275 to place third in the all-around. Nebraska had the top two all-arounders with Danielle Breen scoring 39.475 and Hollie Blanske amassing a 39.425.
Sacramento State will host its final regular season meet of the year on Friday, March 4, against Brown. The team will then compete at UC Davis in a three-team meet which will include Cal before returning to The Nest for the MPSF Championships on March 19.
MASTER'S CLASSIC TEAM SCORES
1. #14 Nebraska 196.400
2. Sacramento State 194.875
3. Northern Illinois 194.350
4. Bridgeport 193.225
VAULT
T1. Danielle Breen, Hollie Blanske, NEB; Ajiea Hargrave, UB; Kalliah McCartney, SAC, 9.875; 5. Julia Konner 9.850; T6. Lauren Rice, Megan Kyle, 9.750; 12. Lauren Schmeiss 9.725; 22. Jennifer Brenner 9.525.
BARS
1. Jamyra Carter, NIU, 9.850; T2. Jackie Sampson, Cassie Benning 9.825; T7. Lauren Rice, Kalliah McCartney 9.775; T10. Alyssa Anderson, Courtney Soliwoda 9.750.
BEAM
1. Danielle Breen, NEB, 9.900; T11. Cassie Benning, Kalliah McCartney 9.800; 13. Jackie Samspon 9.775; T16. Julia Konner 9.650; 19. Lauren Rice 9.400; 22. Megan Kyle 9.150.
FLOOR
1. Hollie Blanske, NEB, 9.900; T7. Kalliah McCartney 9.825; T10. Lauren Rice 9.800; 17. Cassie Benning 9.675; T18. Jennifer Brenner, Julia Konner 9.625.
ALL-AROUND
1. Danielle Breen, NEB, 39.475; 3. Kalliah McCartney 39.275; 5. Lauren Rice 38.725.
