Postgame Quotes: UCLA 1, Maryland 4 (Los Angeles Regional Game Four)Postgame Quotes: UCLA 1, Maryland 4 (Los Angeles Regional Game Four)

Women Gymnastics Opens Pac-10 Season at Oregon State

Gymnastics

THIS WEEK - The fourth-ranked UCLA women's gymnastics team (2-2) will face its first Pac-10 Conference opponent when it travels to Corvallis, OR to take on Oregon State (0-1) in the Beavers' home open

January 18, 1999

THIS WEEK - The fourth-ranked UCLA women's gymnastics team (2-2) will face its first Pac-10 Conference opponent when it travels to Corvallis, OR to take on Oregon State (0-1) in the Beavers' home opener. The meet will take place at Gill Coliseum at 7:00 pm. UCLA and Oregon State represent the elite of Pac-10 Gymnastics in the conference's 12 years. The two teams have won between them 11 Pac-10 team titles, 10 Pac-10 Gymnast of the Year honors, seven Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors, 11 Pac-10 all-around titles and 14 Pac-10 uneven bars titles.

A LOOK AT THE BEAVERS - Oregon State is coached by former UCLA All-American Tanya (Service) Chaplin. The Beavers are led by All-American Megan Murphy- Barcroft and All-Pac-10 selection Lara Degenhardt. In its season opener, Oregon State fell to Arizona 192.275-189.725. The meet was costly for the Beavers, who likely lost senior Bea Tistu for the entire season with a ruptured Achilles. Also on the injury list for the Beavers is junior Corrie Young (meniscus tear). UCLA leads the overall series with OSU 17-12 and split in two regular season meetings last season.

INJURY BUG HITS BRUINS - The injury bug that has struck many teams already this season has struck the Bruins once again. Already missing freshman standout Amy Young to an ACL tear, the Bruins now have sophomore All-American Mohini Bhardwaj out with ligament tears in her elbow. Bhardwaj, who sustained the injury during warm-ups at Penn State last weekend, is expected to be able to return by the Pac-10 Championships on March 20. The injury leaves UCLA without the nation's No. 1 ranked vaulter and one of its top all-arounders. Fortunately, freshman Kaitie Dyson is expected to compete this weekend after missing the first two weeks with back problems. Also expected back is senior All-American Susie Erickson (Pomona, CA), who did not compete at Penn State due to a sprained ankle.

BRUINS FINISH SECOND AT PENN STATE - UCLA placed second in a triangular meet at Penn State, outscoring New Hampshire 193.525-190.85, but falling to the second- ranked Lady Lions, who scored 193.825. Junior Heidi Moneymaker led the Bruins with a season-high all-around score of 39.175. Moneymaker and Lena Degteva tied for first place on bars with scores of 9.85, and Degteva won the vault outright with a season-best 9.9.

FRESHMEN STEP UP - The Bruins received a strong showing from their freshman class at Penn State last weekend. Valerie Velasco (Fullerton, CA), in particular, stood out, scoring a career-high 9.85 as the leadoff performer on beam, a score that was good enough for second place. Velasco also scored career- highs on vault (9.575) and floor (9.725). Stephanie Johnson made her UCLA debut on vault, scoring 9.575. Lindsey Dong hit career highs on vault (9.625) and floor (9.375), as did Alison Stoner (Laguna Hills, CA) on beam (9.45).

UCLA IN THE RANKINGS - In last week's national rankings (Jan. 12, by high score), UCLA ranked fourth for team score (193.5), second on vault (48.95), fifth on bars (48.375), second on beam (48.85) and 17th on floor (47.525). Individually, Mohini Bhardwaj ranks 10th in the all-around (38.8), first on vault (9.95), ninth on bars (9.825) and eighth on floor (9.85). Kiralee Hayashi ranks seventh on vault (9.85), and Heidi Moneymaker ranks fifth on beam (9.85).