April 11, 1999
The 15th-ranked UCLA women's gymnastics team won its regional meet at Corvallis, OR with a 197.025 and advanced to its 16th NCAA Championship, eighth consecutive. The Bruins hit all 24 of their routines.
UCLA started the meet with a strong bars set, recording its second-highest total of the season, a 49.25. Senior Susie Erickson led the Bruins off with a 9.775. Luisa Portocarrero followed with a 9.75. Kiralee Hayashi posted a 9.8, followed by a pair of 9.875s by Lena Degteva and Mohini Bhardwaj. For Bhardwaj, who tore ligaments in her elbow Jan. 23, it was her first bars routine in three months. Defending NCAA bars champion Heidi Moneymaker rounded out the scoring with a 9.925.
On beam, the Bruins posted an identical score of 49.25. Once again, Erickson led UCLA with a solid score of 9.825, her 21st consecutive "hit" beam routine. Hayashi followed Erickson with a career-high tying 9.9, her second consecutive 9.9 score on beam. Moneymaker totaled a 9.875, Degteva a 9.8, Bhardwaj a 9.75 and Portocarrero a 9.85 to give the Bruins the lead after three rotations with a 98.5. Third-ranked Utah trailed with a 97.625, followed by Oregon State with a 97.5.
Three 9.9 scores (Bhardwaj, Degteva, Hayashi) highlighted the Bruin floor set, along with freshman Alison Stoner's career-high tying 9.85, which helped give UCLA a three-event score of 147.925.
Needing just a 48.525 on vault to win the meet over Utah (final score of 196.425) and only a 46.975 to overtake Oregon State (final score of 194.875) for second place, the Bruins went on to score a 49.1 to easily pull out the victory. Degteva's 9.775 leadoff score, Portocarrero's 9.8, Hayashi's 9.8, Moneymaker's 9.85, Bhardwaj's 9.85 and Lisa Hiley's career-high 9.8 (her first competitive vault since Jan. 10) gave the Bruins their final score of 197.025 (fourth-highest score in school history) and a perfect 24 for 24 performance.
"I was very impressed with the caliber of athletes on this team, both mentally and physically," said UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos. "Their mental strength and focus were amazing."
In addition to winning the all-around with a 39.525, Moneymaker was voted the Region 1 Gymnast of the Year. Her Bruin teammates also fared well in the all-around, with UCLA gymnasts taking four of the Top 5 placings. Hayashi tied her career-high of 39.4 to place third, Bhardwaj set a new career-high with a 39.375 and fourth-place showing, and Degteva scored a 39.35 to place fifth.
The Bruins advance to the NCAA Championships Apr. 22-24 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Also competing in the Championships are Utah, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, West Virginia, Michigan, Nebraska, Stanford, LSU, Penn State and Arizona State.