Feb. 5, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

THIS WEEK IN THE PAC-10:
Three Pac-10 teams recorded season-best scores and three others hover near or within the top 10 teams in the nation after another thrilling week of Conference contests. ARIZONA STATE and WASHINGTON rose to the challenge of facing off against the Conference's top two teams, OREGON STATE and UCLA. Though the Sun Devils and Huskies could not upset their com-petition, they each tallied season-high team scores. ARIZONA did the same against CALI-FORNIA in its first Conference win of 2008. After stunningly eclipsing the 49-point mark on all four apparatuses for the first time this season, Oregon State becomes the leader of the Pac-10 and ranks No. 8 nationally. No. 9 UCLA and No. 11 STANFORD hover closely behind.

Four of the six Pac-10 teams in action this weekend travel to the Windy City of Chicago, Ill., for competition. Stanford, UCLA, and Washington partner with Illinois in an NCAA feature session at the IGI Chicago Style Meet on Navy Pier. No. 20 Arizona challenges Illinois-Chicago on the road. Stanford, coming off of two weeks of rest, packs a second dual into its weekend schedule, against Iowa State. California hosts the only head-to-head Conference match-up of the week when Oregon State visits on Sunday.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE, FEB. 5 - 11:
*All times are Pacific

Friday, February 8
STANFORD, UCLA, WASHINGTON, Illinois at IGI Chicago Style Meet, NCAA Session, 5 p.m.

Saturday, February 9
ARIZONA at Illinois-Chicago, 3 p.m.

Sunday, February 10
STANFORD at Iowa State, noon
CALIFORNIA vs. OREGON STATE, 2 p.m.

PAC-10 NOTES:
ARIZONA - The Wildcats earned their third home win and a season-high team score of 194.650, defeating CALIFORNIA. In addition to scoring the night's top five marks on vault, Arizona placed first and second on every event. Karin Wurm and Sarah Specht led the Cats on bars; Breanne Workman, Colleen Fisher, and Wurm earned vault honors; Danielle Hicks and Briana Bergeson went 1-2 on beam; and Specht scored a career-high 9.85 on floor to top the podium over Workman. Next opponent: Illinois-Chicago on Sat., Feb. 9.

ARIZONA STATE - The Sun Devils tallied a season-best 196.150 but could not overthrow OREGON STATE. Nicole Harris won the all-around with a season-best 39.400; Tiana Jean (39.175) and Francesca Mercurio (38.9) fol-lowed with career-bests. Ashlee Hinkle posted personal bests on both vault (first) and floor (second). Beate Jones and Mercurio vaulted to career-high marks of 9.825. The Sun Devils hit all six floor routines and recorded a season-topping 49.175. Next opponent: ARIZONA on Fri., Feb. 15.

CALIFORNIA - The Golden Bears fell on the road to No. 19 ARIZONA. Avery Gee posted the Bears' top mark of the night with her second-place 9.825 on floor. Siobhan Luce (bars) and Bridgette Glass (beam) finished third with 9.750s. Jessica Kelly tallied a 9.7 on bars to round out the Bears' top scores of the night. Next opponent: OREGON STATE on Sun., Feb., 10.

OREGON STATE - For the first time since 1992, the Beavers emerged victorious in a dual meet at Tempe, Ariz., against No. 20 ARIZONA STATE. Mandi Rodriguez scored a career-best 9.9 on bars and Jami Lanz added the same score on beam to secure those event titles. Both athletes shared floor honors with Yuki Lamb after notching meet-high matching scores of 9.875. Becky Colvin (floor) and Whitney Watson (bars), new to the lineup, each posted career-bests. Next opponent: CALIFORNIA on Sun., Feb. 10.

STANFORD - The Cardinal took a break from competition last week. They return to the road this week for the NCAA Session of the IGI Chicago Style Meet. Next opponent: UCLA, WASHINGTON, and Illinois on Fri., Feb. 8.

UCLA - The Bruins swept the all-around and won each event during a victory at WASHINGTON. Tasha Schwikert and Anna Li - first and second in the all-around, respectively - each won two individual events with season-high scores. On beam, all six Bruins hit their sets and earned either season- or career-high marks. The team's average ranks them No. 4 nationally on the apparatus. Next opponent: STANFORD, WASHINGTON, and Illinois at the IGI Chicago Style Meet on Fri., Feb. 8.

WASHINGTON - The young Huskies took on No. 8 UCLA in a respectable manner by posting their highest score of the season, 194.425. Ashley Houghting scored 9.85 on both vault and floor to pick up a pair of second place finishes. Kristen Omori (beam) and Nikki Waiss (vault) returned to the lineup and contributed 9.725s on their events. Kristen Linton led the Husky all-arounders with a 38.850. Next opponent: STANFORD, UCLA, and Illinois at the IGI Chicago Style Meet on Fri., Feb. 8.