SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Amber Koeth and Emma Morgenthaler combined for five top-three finishes to lead the Sacramento State gymnastics team in a four-team meet at The Nest on Friday night. The Hornets totaled 194.850 to place third overall behind San Jose State (196.025) and Texas Woman's (195.425) and ahead of Alaska Anchorage (192.000).
Koeth tied for first place on beam with a 9.875 and tied for second on bars with a 9.850. Morgenthaler tied for third in the all-around (39.175), was second on vault (9.900) and tied for third on floor (9.850).
Sacramento State's score was the third over 194 points during the three-meet homestand. The team has raised its average to 193.113 for all six meets this season, helped by an average of 195.692 in the last three meets.
The Hornets set a season high on vault with a total of 48.875. Along with Morgenthaler's career-high, Grace Gilman and Sarah Fitzgerald each scored 9.800 to tie for seventh.
On bars, the team counted five scores of 9.650 or better for a 48.755 which was its second best of the year. Koeth's score was just off her career best of 9.875 which came last week. Torri Tavenner and Destiny Watley each scored 9.775 to tie for seventh place and Shaye Mathias added a 9.725 to place 14th.
Despite having to count a fall on beam, Sacramento State still managed to score 48.475. Emma Morgenthaler opened with a 9.775 and was followed by an identical score from Grace Gilman. After Shaye Mathias scored a career best 9.800, Koeth was near flawless to earn a share of the win. She is now averaging 9.846 in six routines and has five scores of 9.850 or better.
The team closed the meet on floor with its second best score of the year (48.725). The Hornets had two scores of 9.700 and 9.675 among its first four routines but surged in the bottom third of the lineup where Koeth and Morgenthaler were each within a half-tenth of the title.
Morgenthaler's all-around total of 39.175 was the best of her young career and marked her third straight meet scoring at least 39 points.
Sacramento State will have a quick recovery as the team competes at Stanford on Monday along with BYU and Boise State at 2 p.m.
Team Standings
1. San Jose State 196.025
2. Texas Woman's 195.425
3. Sacramento State 194.850
4. Alaska Anchorage 192.000
Vault
1, Jaudai Lopes, SJSU, 9.925; 2. Emma Morgenthaler 9.900; T7. Grace Gilman, Sarah Fitzgerald 9.800; 13. Mary Won 9.700; T14. Destiny Watley, Torri Tavenner 9.675.
Bars
1. Lauren MacPherson, SJSU, 9.875; T2. Amber Koeth 9.850; T7. Torri Tavenner, Destiny Watley 9.775; 14. Shaye Mathias 9.725; 18. Emma Morgenthaler 9.650; 24. Sarah Fitzgerald 8.925.
Beam
T1. Amber Koeth, SAC; Madison Kirsch, SJSU; Steelie King, TWU, 9.875; 8. Shaye Mathias 9.800; T9. Emma Morgenthaler, Grace Gilman 9.775; 20. Peyton Gillen 9.250; 23. Destiny Watley 8.775.
Floor
T1. Cameron Kelperis, Lauren MacPherson, SJSU, 9.875; T3. Emma Morgenthaler 9.850; T6. Amber Koeth 9.825; T14. Grace Gilman, Destiny Watley 9.700; T19. Sarah Fitzgerald, Torri Tavenner 9.650.
All-Around
1. Jaudai Lopes, SJSU, 39.350; 3. Emma Morgenthaler 39.175; 5. Destiny Watley 37.925.
