February 12, 1999
Tempe, AZ - The UCLA women's gymnastics team, ranked No. 11 in the country, scored its second-highest team total of the season, but its 194.4 was not enough to overtake host Arizona State's season-high 196.325 at Wells Fargo Arena. The Sun Devils (4-1, 2-1 Pac-10) used a school record 49.550 on balance beam and season highs in the vault (48.725), bars (48.9) and floor exercise (49.375) to win the dual meet. Six ASU gymnasts combined to set or tie 10 personal bests on the evening.
UCLA (7-4, 2-2 Pac-10) held a slight 97.425-97.4 advantage after two events. The Bruins were led in the first two events by junior all-American and defending NCAA bars champion Heidi Moneymaker, who won the first two events - bars (9.95) and vault (9.9) - of the evening. The Bruins swept the first two spots in the vault competition and garnered three of the first four places in the bars competition. Bruin junior all-America Lena Degteva was right behind Moneymaker in the vault (9.8) and bars (9.875), respectively.
The third rotation saw the Devils stage the best performance in school history. ASU swept the top-five places in the event on its way to a 49.55. The Devils were led in the event by freshman Lea Carver (9.975), Michelle Hess and junior all-America Elizabeth McNabb (9.925), who all set career highs, finishing first, second and third, respectively. Taking fourth and fifth for the Devils were junior all-America Elizabeth Reid (9.875) and senior co-captain Wendy Ellsberry (9.85).
Meanwhile, on floor, UCLA recorded its highest team score of the season, a 49.05. The Bruins were led on this event by Degteva, who scored a season-best 9.9 to place third. Kiralee Hayashi placed fourth with a 9.875, followed by Moneymaker with a 9.85.
The Devils swept the top two spots in their last event of the evening, the floor exercise. ASU scored a 49.375 in the event, which was its highest score since the '97 season. Leading the way for ASU was McNabb, who tied her personal best of 9.975. For McNabb, it was the fourth time in five meets this season that she won the floor exercise and it was also the 11th time in the last 14 meets that she scored a 9.9 or higher. Taking second for ASU was Ellsberry, who tallied a career-high 9.925.
UCLA, which had to count two falls on beam, had two major highlights on beam - freshman Valerie Velasco's 9.8 and the return of Susie Erickson in the leadoff spot. Erickson hit her 16th consecutive routine on beam, scoring a 9.7.
Reid (39.275) and Ellsberry (39.075) swept the top two spots in the all-around competition, finishing first and second, respectively. Moneymaker, despite a fall on beam, placed third with a 39.05. Velasco improved upon her career-high all-around score by nearly a full point, scoring a 38.85 to place fourth.
Next week the Bruins host Florida, Arizona and Cal State Fullerton in the annual UCLA Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 7:00 pm in Pauley Pavilion. The meet will be broadcast tape-delayed on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 6:00 pm by Fox Sports West2. UCLA will post updated scores after each rotation live on the internet at www.uclabruins.com.
Final Individual Results All-Around: 1. Elizabeth Reid ASU 39.275 2. Wendy Ellsberry ASU 39.075 3. Heidi Moneymaker UCLA 39.050 4. Valerie Velasco UCLA 38.850 5. Kiralee Hayashi UCLA 38.725Vault 1. Heidi Moneymaker UCLA 9.9 2. Lena Degteva UCLA 9.8 3. Michelle Hess ASU 9.75 Kelly Christensen ASU 9.75 5. Kiralee Hayashi UCLA 9.725
Bars 1. Heidi Moneymaker UCLA 9.95 2. Elizabeth Reid ASU 9.875 Lena Degteva UCLA 9.875 4. Kiralee Hayashi UCLA 9.825 5. Becky Acker ASU 9.8 Kelly Christensen ASU 9.8
Beam 1. Lea Carver ASU 9.975 2. Elizabeth McNabb ASU 9.925 Michelle Hess ASU 9.925 4. Elizabeth Reid ASU 9.875 5. Wendy Ellsberry ASU 9.85
Floor 1. Elizabeth McNabb ASU 9.975 2. Wendy Ellsberry ASU 9.925 3. Lena Degteva UCLA 9.9 4. Kiralee Hayashi UCLA 9.875 5. Heidi Moneymaker UCLA 9.85