STANFORD, Calif. – The Cardinal earned a come-from-behind victory in its home opener Saturday, besting the San Jose State Spartans 196.100 to 195.850 inside Maples Pavilion.
Freshman Anna Roberts and senior Chloe Widner earned the vault and beam titles for the second consecutive meet, both recording scores of 9.90 on their respective events. Roberts also shared the floor title with freshman Claire Dean, with the duo both earning scores of 9.90 on the event.
Stanford started its day on vault, led by Roberts' second 9.900 on the event this season. The Seattle, Wash. native has now won the vault title in her first two collegiate meets. Widner and fifth year Madi Brunette each earned a 9.800, and freshman Taralyn Nguyen 9.725 to round out the Cardinal's top scores on the event. San Jose State earned a 49.025 on bars and led by .150 after the first rotation.
The Cardinal then moved to bars, showing resiliency throughout the rotation with hit routines after falls. Redshirt sophomore Ira Alexeeva scored a career-high 9.875 after a fall from sophomore Brenna Neault, while Widner earned a 9.825 after a stumble by Roberts. After two rotations, San Jose State led 97.750 to 97.525.
Stanford then launched its comeback efforts on beam, totaling a 49.175 team score on the event. Widner led the Cardinal beam squad for the second consecutive meet with an event-winning 9.90, while Neault earned the team's second-best score with a 9.875. In her collegiate debut on the event, Alexeeva earned a 9.850. With three rotations complete, the two teams were tied at 146.700.
The Cardinal saved its best for last with an incredible floor rotation, earning a season-best event score of 49.400. Stanford did not count a score less than 9.85, led by two 9.90's from Roberts and fellow Dean. Both Brunette and Neault earned scores of 9.875 and freshman Nguyen earned a career-best 9.850.
Stanford heads on the road for the next two meets, first traveling to Tempe, Ariz. to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils on Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.