Women's GymnasticsJanuary 30, 2010

Gymnasts Fall Short in Top 10 Battle

Jan. 29, 2010

CORVALLIS, Ore. -

The No. 5 Stanford women’s gymnastics team pushed No. 6 Oregon State to the end of the final rotation in a 196.225-195.775 loss between Pac-10 powers before 6,143 at Gill Coliseum on Friday.

Shelley Alexander gave the Cardinal its only individual victory of the night, scoring a 9.90 to tie for first on the vault, the team’s strongest event.

Stanford (3-2), which beat Seattle Pacific (188.100) in the tri-meet, nearly took advantage when Oregon State was forced to count a fall on its final rotation, but Mandi Rodriguez capped it off with a 9.90 to clinch the victory for the Beavers (7-0).

Still, Stanford coach Kristen Smyth was pleased with the experience her team has gained from competing against top competition, such as five-time defending national champion Georgia on the road, beating then-No. 1 UCLA last week, and competing in another tough road environment Friday.

“This has been extraordinarily challenging four weeks,” Smyth said. “To come within a tenth of a point of the national champions on the road, beating UCLA and coming to Oregon, we know we have to put our best effort.

“There are obviously places they can improve, but this month has served us very very well as we go forward. It’s been a great experience and a great confidence builder.”

Stanford’s individual highlights included strong performances by Allyse Ishino, Nicole Pechanec, and Carly Janiga, who each scored 9.8-plus in multiple events. Ishino hit a 9.80 on vault, and 9.85's on bars and beam. Janiga went 9.875 on bars for her top score among four events, and Pechanec was solid at 9.825 on bars and 9.85 on floor.

"We took some steps on beam and had some pretty solid routines, but there were some deductions here and there," Smyth said. "We have to be undeniable when we go on the road, or in any arena. We can't make the mistakes that allow judges the opportunity to make deductions."

Stanford returns home Sunday, Feb. 7 (2 p.m.) for a four-way meet with San Jose State, Washington, and Sacramento State at Burnham Pavilion.

"We're not even close to our potential, which is exciting," Smyth said. "There's so much to add and improve upon."

SCORING

Team Results
1. Oregon State - (VT- 49.125; UB-49.400; BB- 49.225; FX- 48.475; FINAL-196.225)

2. Stanford - (VT- 49.150; UB- 49.075; BB- 48.800; FX- 48.750; FINAL- 195.775)

3. Seattle Pacific - (VT- 47.450; UB- 47.375; BB- 45.950; FX- 47.325; FINAL- 188.100)

Individual Results (Winners and Stanford scores)
Vault: Shelley Alexander (S) and Mandi Rodriguez (OSU), 9.90. Other Stanford: Ashley Morgan 9.85, Danielle Ikoma 9.80, Allyse Ishino 9.80, Carly Janiga 9.80, Blair Ryland 9.80.

Uneven Bars: Laura-Ann Chong (OSU) 9.925. Stanford: Carly Janiga 9.875, Allyse Ishino 9.850, Nicole Pechanec 9.825, Alyssa Brown 9.775, Shelley Alexander 9.75, Nicole Dayton 9.575.

Balance Beam: Leslie Mak (OSU) and Makayla Stambaugh (OSU), 9.875. Stanford: Allyse Ishino 9.85, Carly Janiga 9.85, Alyssa Brown 9.725, Danielle Ikoma 9.70, Shelley Alexander 9.675, Ashley Morgan 9.275.

Floor Exercise: Mandi Rodriguez (OSU) 9.90. Stanford: Nicole Pechanec 9.85, Shelley Alexander 9.80, Ashley Morgan 9.80, Tenaya West 9.675, Carly Janiga 9.625, Blair Ryland 9.60.

All-around: Mandi Rodriguez (OSU) 39.475. Stanford: Carly Janiga 39.150, Shelley Alexander 39.150.