BERKELEY, Calif. - Stanford suffered its first loss of the 2023 season Saturday, falling to No. 7 California in Haas Pavilion, 197.525-196.075.
The Cardinal's freshman class recorded seven career-best efforts throughout the meet, as freshman Taralyn Nguyen totaled collegiate bests on both vault (9.850) and floor (9.875), Anna Roberts secured career bests on bars (9.850), floor (9.925, share of the floor title), and all-around (39.375), and matched her career-best vault total (9.900), while Claire Dean marked her top scores in a Stanford leo on bars (9.800) and beam (9.900).
Stanford opened its day in Berkeley with a stunning bars rotation, totaling a season-best team score on the event of 49.400. Junior Ira Alexeeva and sophomore Brenna Neault led the way, each earning a score of 9.900. The score was Alexeeva's career-best mark and Neault's season-best effort on the event. Stanford also saw career-best totals from freshman Claire Dean, scoring a 9.800 in the leadoff spot, and from fellow classmate Anna Roberts, who earned a 9.850.
The Cardinal then moved to vault, earning a team score of 49.100 led by Anna Roberts' score of 9.90. It was her third 9.90 score on the event this season and her fourth top Stanford vault score in so many meets. Fellow freshman Nguyen earned her collegiate best score on vault with a 9.85, and Chloe Widner and Neault each totaled scores of 9.80.
It was then onto floor where top scores from the freshman class led the way. Roberts led the way with a career-best 9.925, earning a share of the floor title, and Nguyen earned her collegiate-best score of 9.875. Dean and sophomore Neault each totaled scores of 9.825.
Stanford struggled in its final rotation, recording its lowest team event score of the year on the beam of 48.400. Dean highlighted the lineup with her collegiate best 9.90.
The Cardinal returns home to Maples Pavilion Saturday, Feb. 4 for its annual Alumni meet, hosting No. 28 Arizona. The bout with the Wildcats is set to begin at 6 p.m.
