Stanford Wins Gymnastics Home Opener

Jan. 17, 2010

Results

STANFORD, Calif. -

Scoresheet in PDF Format

Complete Results in PDF Format

Carly Janiga captured the all-around once again, scoring 39.325 to lead Stanford to victory in its home women's gymnastics opener Sunday, beating Arizona, 196.025-194.675, before 1,000 at Burnham Pavilion.

Janiga, a six-time All-America and the defending Pac-10 all-around champion, has won the all-around in each of the season's first two meets. Against Arizona, the senior added a floor exercise victory (9.875) and averaged a meet-high 9.83 for her four events.

Stanford (1-1) bounced back from a narrow season-opening loss at defending NCAA champion Georgia last week by scoring 49.250 on the first event, the vault. It was the team's season-best score on any event, and was punctuated by Shelley Alexander's 9.90 from the final position in the lineup.

Alexander's vault was the day's highest score and one of 15 season bests by the Cardinal, which also had three collegiate career bests, including a 9.85 on the floor by freshman sensation Ashley Morgan, who placed second.

"It was another strong performance," Stanford coach Kristen Smyth said. "We made a few mistakes, but I felt the team did a good job covering for each other. To score a 196 this early with places to make big improvements, is a good sign."

From the outset of the meet, when consistent Blair Ryland scored a 9.825 to lead off the vault, Stanford never trailed.

"The vault was really outstanding," Smyth said. "That was a great way for us to start."

However, Arizona (0-2) closed to within, 147.100-146.825, after three rotations, when Stanford suffered a fall and a couple of minor mistakes on the backend of its beam lineup. Danielle Ikoma and Alyssa Brown had put the Cardinal in good position with back-to-back 9.800s, both season bests. Brown's came on her first collegiate beam routine for the sophomore.

"It was wonderful to see Alyssa Brown perform so confidently on the beam," Smyth said.

The Cardinal again suffered a fall on the floor, but scored well on the back end of its final event, with Alexander helping the cause with a 9.825. Meanwhile, Arizona suffered a pair of falls on the beam and was unable to mount a comeback.

Alexander tied her career high on the bars (9.825) and finished close behind in the all-around, scoring a season-high 39.225.

The task will be tougher next Sunday when Stanford plays host to No. 1 UCLA at Burnham Pavilion in a 2 p.m. meet. The two teams have split the past six Pac-10 team championships. Admission is free.

SCORING

Team Results
1. Stanford - (VT- 49.250; UB- 49.050; BB- 48.800; FX- 48.925; FINAL- 196.025)
2. Arizona - (VT- 49.075; UB- 48.950; BB- 47.850; FX- 48.800; FINAL- 194.675)

Individual Results (Winners and Stanford scores)
Vault: Shelley Alexander (S) 9.90. Other Stanford: Allyse Ishino 9.85, Carly Janiga 9.85, Ashley Morgan 9.825, Blair Ryland 9.825, Danielle Ikoma 9.775.

Bars: Sarah Tomczyk (A) 9.875. Stanford: Carly Janiga 9.85, Nicole Pechanec 9.85, Shelley Alexander 9.825, Alyssa Brown 9.80, Danielle Ikoma 9.725, Allyse Ishino 9.350.

Beam: Britnie Jones (A) 9.825. Stanford: Alyssa Brown 9.80, Danielle Ikoma 9.80, Allyse Ishino 9.775, Carly Janiga 9.75, Shelley Alexander 9.675, Ashley Morgan 9.20.

Floor: Carly Janiga (S) 9.875. Other Stanford: Ashley Morgan 9.85, Shelley Alexander 9.825, Blair Ryland 9.725, Nicole Pechanec 9.65, Tenaya West 9.150.

All-around: Carly Janiga (S) 39.325. Other Stanford: Shelley Alexander 39.225.

Records: Stanford 1-1, Arizona 0-2.