University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Scores 196.3 To Place Third At IGI/Chicago Style Invitational
February 11, 2011 | Gymnastics
Feb. 11, 2011
Complete Results
Video: Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor
In a hotly-contested race between three nationally-ranked Pac-10 teams at the IGI/Chicago Style Invitational, 10th-ranked UCLA finished in a close third with a score of 196.3. Second-ranked Stanford was first with a 196.475, and sixth-ranked Oregon State placed second with a 196.35.
The Bruins had a strong start to the competition, recording a season-high-tying 49.275 on uneven bars on the strength of a pair of 9.9s from Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs and freshman Samantha Peszek, who was making her collegiate debut after being sidelined with a foot injury. UCLA also received high marks from Monique De La Torre (9.85), Brittani McCullough (9.825) and Aisha Gerber (9.8). The Bruins' score was good for first place after one rotation, ahead of Stanford (49.15) and Oregon State (49.075).
For rotation two, the Bruins moved to balance beam. Gerber and Niki Tom started the rotation with a pair of 9.8s. Olivia Courtney put a hand down on her dismount, which put some pressure on the back half of the lineup, but they responded with three hit routines, including 9.75s from McCullough and Tauny Frattone and a 9.875 from Hopfner-Hibbs. UCLA's beam score of 48.975 gave the Bruins a team total of 98.25 at the halfway mark, just half a tenth behind Stanford (98.3) and half a tenth ahead of Oregon State (98.2).
On floor exercise in the third rotation, UCLA totaled just 48.85 after taking three out-of-bounds deductions and dropped to third place with a three-event total of 147.10. Courtney led the team with a career-high 9.9, and Tom and Lichelle Wong each added season-high 9.85s. Frattone, Hopfner-Hibbs and McCullough each stepped out of bounds on some big tumbling passes, however, dropping the Bruins' score by two-tenths. Stanford increased its lead after scoring 49.2 on bars, with a three-event total of 147.5. Oregon State jumped just ahead of the Bruins with a 147.125.
UCLA finished up the meet on vault and hit one of its best rotations of the season, scoring a season-high 49.2, but it wasn't quite enough to overtake Oregon State, who scored a season-high 49.225 on floor, or Stanford, who scored 48.975 on beam. All six Bruins scored 9.8 or better, led by Frattone's 9.9, which was good for first place. Courtney and McCullough earned marks of 9.85, while De La Torre, Sydney Sawa and Hopfner-Hibbs each scored 9.8.
Four Bruins took home first-place finishes, with Frattone winning vault (9.9), Peszek and Hopfner-Hibbs tying with three others for first on bars (9.9), and Courtney tying for first on floor (9.9). UCLA claimed the highest team totals on vault (49.2), bars (49.275) and beam (48.975, tied with Stanford).
The Bruins will be home for the next three meets, starting with the Heart of a Champion meet on Monday, Feb. 21 against North Carolina State at 1 pm. Commemorative t-shirts can be purchased now for $10 at campdelcorazon.org. All proceeds from t-shirt sales will go directly to Camp del Corazon, and the t-shirt will get you free general admission to the meet.
