GYMNASTICS WELCOMES NATIONALLY-RANKED IOWA FOR SUNDAY SHOWDOWN

Hornets coming off program-record to face fourth top 36 opponent this season

OPENING PASS

The Sacramento State gymnastics team will attempt to top a record-setting performance in its most recent meet as the Hornets welcome Iowa to The Nest on Sunday, Mar. 3, at 1 p.m. The meet against the Hawkeyes will also serve as Alumni Day. All Block S members will be admitted for free.
Sacramento State shattered the school record in its most recent effort, scoring 196.825 in a win over Air Force. As expected with a score of that magnitude, there were numerous team and individual records set during the meet. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the score will not be reflected in the national rankings as the formula switched from season average to NQS this week. The NQS takes a team's top six scores (including at least three meets away from home), drops the high score and averages the remaining five. Sacramento State is 54th nationally with an NQS of 194.600. The team would have to score above 194.675 against Iowa to improve its NQS.
Links to live stats and a video stream for this week's meet can be found on hornetsports.com.

OPPONENT PREVIEW

Iowa is 31st nationally with an NQS of 196.100. The Hawkeyes most recently finished fourth in the Big Five meet hosted by Penn State which also included Illinois, Michigan and Maryland. Iowa totaled 196.225 and was led by sophomore Karina Muñoz who scored a career-high 39.550 and finished third in the all-around. Muñoz had two second place finishes on bars and beam. Ilka Juk took home the beam title, scoring a near-perfect 9.925.
Iowa is coached by Larissa Libby who is in her 20th season as head coach and 24th overall at Iowa and has led the team to 23 NCAA regional appearances. This week will mark just the second time Iowa and Sacramento State have met in a meet. The Hawkeyes earned a 195.300-194.975 win in Seattle, Wash., on Mar. 8, 2019.
Oddly, both teams have a mascot named Herky.

A LOOK AT LATEST ACTION

Sacramento State scored the highest score in school history in a 198.625-195.350 win over Air Force last Friday night at The Nest.
The total of 196.825 breaks the score of 196.475 set against San Jose State on Feb. 19, 2016.
The team became just the fourth in school history to score 196-plus in a meet.
The floor total of 49.425 tops the mark of 49.375 set against Cal State Fullerton/UC Davis on Mar. 12, 2004.
The bars total of 49.300 ranks second in school history only behind a 49.400 in 2016.
The beam total of 49.225 is tied for the third highest in school history.

CLEAN SWEEP

For the second time this season, Sacramento State gymnasts took home all three MPSF weekly awards. Sarah Lutrel was named the Gymnast of the Week for the third time this year and second consecutive week. Kara Houghton earned the Specialist of the Week honor and Jillianne Lastra was named Freshman of the Week.
Lutrel totaled 39.425 to win the all-around which ranks second in school history and is tied for seventh in MPSF history. Lutrel's night was highlighted by a school and MPSF record-tying 9.950 on beam for an outright win in the event. The sophomore started the meet with a career-high tying 9.825 on vault which tied for first place. She then moved to bars where she received a season high 9.775. Lutrel ended her night with a 9.875 on floor and was part of the team's record-breaking score of 49.425.
Houghton set three career highs and recorded the highest score in school history on any event in the win against Air Force. Houghton capped a bars rotation with a 9.975 which is the highest in MPSF and tied for the second best on any event in the MPSF. Her score was the best all-time at Sacramento State regardless of event and earned her the event victory. Houghton then scored 9.850 on to tie for second place on beam and finished the meet with a 9.900 on floor. Houghton's previous career highs were 9.875 on bars, 9.775 on beam and 9.875 on floor all set or tied earlier this season.
Lastra set her career best with a 9.900 on bars against the Falcons. The freshman has now scored at least 9.800 in her last six meets and is now averaging 9.784 on the season with an NQS of 9.800. Lastra tied for third in the event against Air Force and guided the Hornets to a 49.300 on the event which ranks second in school history.

A LONG TIME COMING

Sacramento State will unveil a new training facility early in the 2024 season. The building, which is located on Folsom Blvd. and is within walking distance of campus, will be mark the first time the Hornets will have access to its own facility in school history.
The training site will have a full size competition floor and several sets of the other apparatus. The facility is expected to open in spring 2024.

THIS AND THAT

Sacramento State's has now scored 194-plus in seven consecutive meets. The team's scoring average of 194.622 is the highest through eight meets in program history and makes this year's Hornets one of just four teams to average at least 194 at this point of the season.
Sunday's meet will mark just the second time that Sacramento State will host a Big Ten team at The Nest. The only other previous occurence came in 2018 when Minnesota made the trip to Sacramento.

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Players Mentioned

Kara Houghton: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Sarah Lutrel: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Jillianne Lastra: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kara Houghton
: 5' 3"; Sophomore

Sarah Lutrel
: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Jillianne Lastra
: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kara Houghton

Sarah Lutrel

Jillianne Lastra

Players Mentioned

Kara Houghton

Sarah Lutrel

Jillianne Lastra

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