CORVALLIS, Ore. – A tough start for No. 12 Stanford and a season-best team performance by No. 16 Oregon State was too much to overcome as the Cardinal fell to the Beavers, 197.100-195.750.
Despite suffering its first loss of the season, Stanford (10-1, 2-1 Pac-12) delivered multiple individual highlight performances throughout the night.
Kristina Vaculik and Nicolette McNair had tremendous starts to the meet, tying for the Cardinal’s top score in the first two events. The duo opened the meet with scores of 9.875 on bars to place third, before earning meet-high scores of 9.900 on vault. McNair’s score on bars tied her collegiate best, while Vaculik’s score on vault tied her collegiate-high.
McNair also contributed a great beam routine (9.875), and Vaculik was strong on floor, tying her collegiate best of 9.925.
“She was stunning,” head coach Kristen Smyth said of Vaculik’s performance. “She really stepped up and provided great leadership.”
Smyth added she was proud of how McNair and the rest of the freshman class performed and handled their first major away meet – especially given the big stage and unique format presented by a Pac-12 Network broadcast event.
WATCH: Highlights from Stanford's meet at Oregon State.
Shona Morgan delivered a terrific performance on beam to score a team-best 9.900 and finish second in the competition.
“There were great individual performances but as a team we came up short,” said Smyth. “We have to be able to put a complete performance together.”
Stanford had a promising start on bars with the first three gymnasts scoring 9.750 or higher, but two Cardinal gymnasts on the back end of the rotation suffered falls. The Cardinal had to count a missed routine, giving Oregon State the early lead, 49.075-48.500.
Stanford was led on bars by Nicolette McNair and Kristina Vaculik with both scoring 9.875. Shona Morgan earned a 9.750 in the leadoff position, while Danielle McNair also delivered a strong performance to notch a 9.775.
The Cardinal responded with a terrific performance on vault, as Nicolette McNair and Vaculik continued to pace the Cardinal on vault, earning back-to-back meet-high scores of 9.900 in the fifth and sixth positions. Rachel Daum delivered a great vault to tie her collegiate best of 9.875, while Melissa Chuang and Daniellle McNair also contributed strong scores of 9.800.
The strong performance in the second rotation helped keep Stanford within striking distance but the Cardinal had difficulty getting going on floor with the first three gymnasts scoring 9.650 or lower. However, Daum helped kick start a strong team finish with a great performance to earn a 9.850. Vaculik followed with another solid routine and tied her collegiate best with a 9.925. Pauline Hanset closed out the event with a 9.700.
The Cardinal entered the final rotation on beam trailing 147.625-146.550. While Stanford notched five scores of 9.775 or higher, it was not quite enough to catch the Beavers which posted a 49.475 in their final rotation on floor to seal the victory.
Shona Morgan got Stanford going with a team-high 9.900 in the leadoff position, followed by a 9.800 from Rebecca Wing and a 9.875 from Nicolette McNair. The Cardinal closed the competition with a 9.775 from Daum and a 9.850 from Amanda Spinner.
Stanford will have a quick turnaround before its next meet, as the Cardinal travel to No. 24 Washington on Saturday at 4 p.m.