April 13, 2000
Boise, ID - UCLA scored the highest team total of the day, recording a 197.25 in the evening preliminary session to qualify for the NCAA Super Six Team Finals for the eighth consecutive year. The Bruins and Georgia remain the only teams to make the Super Six every year since its inception in 1993.
The Bruins started the meet strong on the balance beam, registering a 49.05, with all six gymnasts hitting their routines. The Bruins were paced by a 9.825 from Heidi Moneymaker, a 9.875 from Lena Degteva and a 9.9 from Mohini Bhardwaj.
The floor exercise brought the Bruins more outstanding scores, as they had no score lower than 9.85 to account for a team total of 49.375. Malia Jones, Kristin Parker and Bhardwaj received 9.85s, then were followed by 9.875s from Onnie Willis and Degteva. Moneymaker closed out the set with a 9.925, the highest score of the night on floor.
Vault produced the highest team score of the day on any event - 49.525. After Jones and Parker started off with 9.85s, Degteva followed with a 9.875. Bhardwaj and Willis nailed their vaults to score 9.95s, and Moneymaker anchored with a 9.9. The vault score pushed the Bruins into the lead ahead of second-place Michigan, 147.95-147.775.
With UCLA well ahead after vault, the final rotation on bars turned out to be a battle for the all-around title. Bhardwaj, Moneymaker, Degteva and Nebraska's Heather Brink remained in shooting range of Michigan's Sarah Cain, who had finished her meet in the fifth rotation with a total of 39.575. Needing a 9.875 to tie Cain, Bhardwaj produced exactly that to tie for first place. But her lead was short-lived, as Brink scored a 9.95 on floor to take the title with a 39.6. Bhardwaj and Cain finished in a tie for second, and Moneymaker placed fourth with a 39.55. Degteva was fifth with a 39.5.
"All three of us wanted the all-around title," said Moneymaker. "Even though none of us got it, we are very proud of our performance."
The Bruins hit all 24 of their routines, including 12 from the freshman class of Jones, Parker, Willis and Doni Thompson.
"It was a pleasure to see the freshmen handle the pressure so well and hit all their events," said UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos. "I was concerned because they knew how much the upperclassmen wanted it, and I was worried that it would put too much pressure on them. But I was so impressed by their poise."
"It was a great day for me, and a great day for the team," said Moneymaker. "The freshmen went out and did their jobs like they have all year. I hold a special place in my heart for them."
Earlier in the day, two-time defending champion Georgia won the afternoon session with a total of 196.775. Also qualifying to the Super Six were second-place Utah (196.125) and third-place Alabama (196.075).
After the meet, a draw was conducted to determine the rotation order for the Super Six. UCLA will begin the meet on floor for the second consecutive year and will end on the beam. Nebraska begins on vault, Georgia begins on the bye before bars, Utah begins on bars, Michigan on beam, and Alabama on the bye before floor.
UCLA ScoresDoni Thompson - 9.675 Kristin Parker - 9.775 Malia Jones - 9.675 Heidi Moneymaker - 9.825 Lena Degteva - 9.875 Mohini Bhardwaj - 9.9Beam - 49.05
Floor - 49.375 Malia Jones - 9.85 Kristin Parker - 9.85 Mohini Bhardwaj - 9.85 Onnie Willis - 9.875 Lena Degteva - 9.875 Heidi Moneymaker - 9.925
Vault - 49.525 Malia Jones - 9.85 Kristin Parker - 9.85 Lena Degteva - 9.875 Mohini Bhardwaj - 9.95 Onnie Willis - 9.95 Heidi Moneymaker - 9.9
Bars - 49.3 Doni Thompson - 9.75 Kristin Parker - 9.8 Onnie Willis - 9.85 Lena Degteva - 9.875 Heidi Moneymaker - 9.9 Mohini Bhardwaj - 9.875
NCAA Championships - Preliminaries (Both Sessions Combined) Team: 1) UCLA, 197.25, 2) Georgia, 196.775, 3) Utah, 196.125, 4) Alabama, 196.075, 5) Nebraska, 196.0, 6) Michigan, 195.925, 7) Penn State, 195.35, 8) Iowa State, 195.325, 9) LSU 194.950, 10) Oregon State, 194.750, 11) BYU, 194.500. 12) West Virginia, 194.175.
All-Around: 1. Heather Brink (Nebraska), 39.6, 2t. Mohini Bhardwaj (UCLA), 39.575, 2t. Sarah Cain (Michigan), 39.575, 4. Heidi Moneymaker (UCLA), 39.55, 5. Lena Degteva (UCLA), 39.5.