GYMNASTICS MAKES SHORT TRIP TO UC DAVIS FOR SUPER SUNDAY SHOWDOWN

OPENING PASS

The Sacramento State gymnastics will start the second half of its season with a Sunday showdown at UC Davis. The meet, which will take place at the University Credit Union Center, will start at 1 p.m.
Sacramento State is 2-6 overall but has posted its three best scores of the season in its last three meets. The Hornets are averaging 193.455 in their first five meets of the year, but have an average of 194.500 in their last three matches.
Going forward, Sacramento State will have the advantage of competing at home in three of its last four regular season meets. After this weekend, the team will compete at The Nest in three straight meets before traveling to Cal for the regular season finale on March 12. Sacramento State will then compete at the MPSF Championships at Air Force on March 18.
Links for live scoring and a live video stream for this week's meet can be found on hornetsports.com.

OPPONENT PREVIEW

UC Davis is 5-3 on the year and ranked 47th nationally with an average of 194.660. The Aggies have scored 196.175 and 195.450 in their last two meets.
Most recently, the team dropped a 196.300-195.450 decision to San Jose State. In that meet, sophomore Keanna Abraham set the school record with a 9.925 on vault and a 9.975 on floor. For her efforts, Abraham was named the MPSF Specialist of the Week. Amelia Moneymaker claimed the MPSF Freshman of the Week award after scoring 9.900 on floor and 9.750 on vault and bars.
This week's meet will be the second of four matchups between the two schools this season. UC Davis captured the season opener, 194.050-191.375. The teams will meet again on March 3 in a four-team meet at The Nest and then at the MPSF Championships.
Former UC Davis gymnast and Sacramento State assistant coach Tanya Ho is in her first year leading the Aggies. Ho had previously served as the head coach at Alaska Anchorage before returning to her alma mater as an assistant last season.
Since 1992, Sacramento State leads the all-time series, 59-53. However, the Aggies have won 16 in a row and 22 of the last 23.

A LOOK AT THE LATEST ACTION

Amber Koeth tied for first place on beam and floor and Sarah Lutrel won on vault to help Sacramento State to a total of 193.650 last Friday at Air Force. The host Falcons won the meet with a total of 194.700.
The Hornets found themselves in a deficit following the first rotation and was never able to close the gap. The team scored 47.725 on bars while Air Force totaled 48.450 on beam. Sacramento State was led by Torri Tavenner who scored 9.675 to place second. Koeth tied for sixth at 9.600 and Bella Lahmidi was ninth at 9.525.
On vault the Hornets received a team score of 48.300. Lutrel led all gymnasts in the meet with a 9.825 for her second win this season on the event. Rylin Zimmerman was second with a 9.775.
Sacramento State's highest event score came on floor in the third rotation with a 48.850. Koeth claimed a share of first place for the third straight meet with a 9.825 to tie Air Force's Kylee Greene. Emma Morgenthaler tied for third with 9.800 and Grace Gilman and Lutrel tied for sixth at 9.775.
The Hornets closed the meet on beam with a 48.775. The score continued a run of three straight strong outings on the event. Koeth and Air Force's Ayla McKean each scored 9.900 to tie for first. The score ties Koeth's career high and was her fourth 9.9 on beam. Grace Gilman tied for third at 9.850 and Morgenthaler scored 9.800 to tie for sixth.
Air Force's Velandra Brochi won the all-around with a four-event total of 38.900. Sacramento State's top score came from Lutrel who was third at 38.800.

SOLORIO ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT FOLLOWING 2023

After close to 40 years at Sacramento State, head coach Randy Solorio announced that he will retire following the 2023 season. Solorio joined the Hornet coaching staff as an assistant coach in 1986 and then transitioned to head coach prior to the 2016 season.
During his career, the Hornets have won eight conference titles, made four NCAA regional appearances as a team and have accounted for all of the team and individual scores in the school top 10.

BREAKING THE CEILING ON FLOOR

Amber Koeth was regarded as one of the top beam performers in the MPSF over the last few seasons. She was a two-time first team all-MPSF selection and had finished first in the event in six meets prior to this season. Koeth matched her career high with a 9.900 to win the event at Air Force last week and pick up her first event title on beam this year.
The Henderson, Nev., native also tied for first place on floor with a 9.825. That score gave her at least a share of first place on floor for the third consecutive meet. Prior to this season, Koeth had never finished first in the event. This year, she is leading the team with an average of 9.805 on floor and has scored 9.825 or better in three straight meets. Her average places her fourth in the MPSF this season.

A NIGHTLY OCCURRENCE

Freshman Sarah Lutrel continued her stellar debut season as she set a career high with a 9.825 to win vault and matched her career best with a 9.775 on floor. Lutrel has now finished first five times this season on individual events and has added two all-around titles.
Her all-around average of 38.600 ranks sixth in the MPSF and 98th nationally. Lutrel set a high of 39.150 against Alaska Anchorage which is the third highest score by an MPSF gymnast this season. The Citrus Heights, Calif., native has already tied the school freshman record with a 9.925 on beam at San Jose State/UW-La Crosse. That score is also tied for the second best in school history.

THIS AND THAT

Sacramento State has competed 13 gymnasts this season, including all four freshmen.
The Hornets have not used the same lineup in any event this season. The closest the team has come is on bars and beam where they have used the same six for the last four meets.
Sacramento State will generate its first NQS following this week's meet. NQS is used to determine postseason berths and is created by taking a team's/athlete's top six scores, removing the top score and then averaging the next five. Of those top six scores, only three can come at home.

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Players Mentioned

Grace Gilman: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Amber Koeth: 5' 6"; Graduate Student

Bella Lahmidi: 5' 7"; Senior

Emma Morgenthaler: 4' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

Torri Tavenner: 5' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Sarah Lutrel: 5' 4"; Freshman

Rylin Zimmerman: 4' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Grace Gilman
: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Amber Koeth
: 5' 6"; Graduate Student

Bella Lahmidi
: 5' 7"; Senior

Emma Morgenthaler
: 4' 11"; Redshirt Sophomore

Torri Tavenner
: 5' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Sarah Lutrel
: 5' 4"; Freshman

Rylin Zimmerman
: 4' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned

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