Feb. 12, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

THIS WEEK IN THE PAC-10:
Team and individual scores soared this week as Pac-10 athletes hit mid-season form. The Conference's gymnastics programs have begun to bear witness to how Pac-10 dual meet outcomes affect the national top 25 standings. The most recent example: last week's No. 8 OREGON STATE, No. 9 UCLA, and No. 11 STANFORD, have become this week's No. 7 UCLA, No. 9 Stanford, and No. 11 Oregon State. Every Conference match-up remaining in the season features at least one ranked team.

Season-high team scores came last weekend from ARIZONA (194.750), Stanford (196.7), UCLA (196.875), and WASHINGTON (194.250, tie). The latter three faced off in a quad meet at the IGI Chicago Style Meet in Chicago, Ill., that also included No. 24 Illinois. The session was the first-ever collegiate event at the weekend-long multi-level invitational hosted by the Illinois Gymnastics Institute.

This week's head-to-head action showcases three Pac-10 rivalries: CALIFORNIA vs. UCLA, Arizona at ARIZONA STATE, and Oregon State vs. Stanford (both on the bubble of the nation's top 10). Washington takes on spitfire No. 2 Utah.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE, FEB. 12-18:
*All times are Pacific

Friday, February 15
No. 20 ARIZONA at No. 17 ARIZONA STATE, 6:30 p.m.
No. 11 OREGON STATE vs. No. 9 STANFORD and Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 16
WASHINGTON vs. No. 2 Utah, 4 p.m.

Sunday, February 17
CALIFORNIA vs. No. 7 UCLA, 2 p.m.

PAC-10 NOTES:
ARIZONA - Repeating last weekend's dominance, the Wildcats earned a meet win, every event title, and a season-high team score (194.750), this time besting Illinois-Chicago. Karin Wurm took all-around (39.325), floor (9.850), and uneven bar (personal-best 9.9) first-place honors. Miranda Russell, Bree Workman, and Wurm vaulted 9.8 and higher, swept the podium, and led the Cats over the 49-point mark. Danielle Hicks earned the beam crown with a solid 9.825. Next opponent: ARIZONA STATE on Fri., Feb. 15.

ARIZONA STATE - The Sun Devils had a bye week but return to action against in-state rival ARIZONA on Fri., Feb. 15.

CALIFORNIA - The Golden Bears fell at home to No. 8 OREGON STATE but saw some athletes step up, nail the small things, and post strong scores. Avery Gee (9.750) and Stefanie Cheng (9.775) aggressively led the Bears to a near-win on floor, losing to the Beavers by less than a tenth of a point. Cal's top event score (48.150) came on beam, on which Bridgette Glass posted the Bears' top score of the day, 9.850. Sophia Hocini tied her personal best 9.650 on bars. Next opponent: UCLA on Sun., Feb., 17.

OREGON STATE - The Beavers rolled to a fifth-straight victory and claimed at least a share of each individual title against CALIFORNIA. Laura-Ann Chong earned her first event title of the season with a 9.9 on bars, obliterating her career high. Mandi Rodriguez (floor and vault) and Tasha Smith (vault) added three more 9.9s. Yuki Lamb marked a career-high 9.85 on beam to tie Claire Pierce for first. Next opponent: STANFORD and Seattle Pacific on Fri., Feb. 15.

STANFORD - The Cardinal ran into a hot UCLA squad that bested them by 0.175 points at the IGI Chicago Style Meet, but still recorded a season-high team score (196.7) that topped WASHINGTON and Illinois. Tabitha Yim scored 9.9s on vault, bars, and floor in her first all-around appearance of the season. Nicole Ourada earned 9.875 on vault and 9.9 on floor. Alysse Ishino (vault), Kelly Fee (floor), and Heather Purnell (floor) each landed to 9.875s. The Cardinal finished a busy weekend with a victory over Iowa State. Next opponent: OREGON STATE and Seattle Pacific on Fri., Feb. 15.

UCLA - The Bruins earned season-high team (196.875), bars (49.325), and floor (49.275) scores before championing the IGI Chicago Style Meet. UCLA is 10-0. Anna Li lit up the night with career highs of 39.6 in the all-around, 9.95 on bars, and 9.925 on floor. She stood atop the podium for all three events. Tasha Schwikert (9.95 floor, first; 9.925 bars; 39.55 all-around) and Ariana Berlin (9.8 vault; 9.8 floor; 39.1 all-around) scored a trio of season bests. Brittani McCullough (9.875 beam) and Allison Taylor (9.75 bars) both nabbed career highs. Next opponent: CALIFORNIA on Sun., Feb. 17.

WASHINGTON - The Huskies finished the IGI Chicago Style Meet with 194.250 points, matching their highest score of the season, but fell to No. 9 UCLA, No. 11 STANFORD, and No. 24 Illinois. Haley Bogart led the team with a career-best 38.975 in the all-around. The Huskies set new season-high team scores on vault and beam and tied their best bar mark of the season. Ashley Houghting, Kristen Linton, and Samantha Walior set solid marks that surpassed 9.8. Next opponent: Utah on Sat., Feb. 16.