Friday NCAA roundup: A sweep in California, a near sweep in Florida

But never mind. The Bruins seem to be getting back on track. Friday night they beat Pac-10 rival Oregon State by 0.05 (196.675-196.625) in their best team effort so far this season. Despite the return of Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs after the aforementioned neck incident, it was fellow former Canadian Leslie Mak atop the all-around podium (39.45). 

 

OSU's Melanie Jones won floor over reigning NCAA floor champion Brittani McCullough (9.925), but McCullough did win balance beam (9.9). Mak and Olivia Vivian were the best on bars (9.925) and Britney Ranzy and UCLA's Tauny Frattone tied for the top score on vault (9.85). (UCLA Bruins)

 

Here's what else happened Friday night in the NCAA:

 

Arizona vs. Boise State @ Arizona: Arizona won the meet 195.375-194.4, but Boise State's Amy Glass also gave her school some wins. Glass was the victor in the all-around (39.35), as well as on vault (9.85) and beam (9.85), where she tied with Arizona's Katie Matusik. Arizona's Miranda Russell won floor (9.85) and bars (9.825). (Arizona Wildcats)

 

Arizona State vs. Brown @ Arizona State: Arizona State, which has struggled mightily since the departure of Parkettes teammates Nicole Harris and Tia Orlando, counted three falls on balance beam but nevertheless won the meet 191.325 to Brown's 186.875. The Sun Devils were somewhat saved by junior Madison Snowden, who posted a 9.75 on beam and a career high 9.9 on floor for first place finishes on both events. Sun Devils stalwart Mary Atkinson led on vault with a 9.825, while Emily Warfield and Christina Salavec each scored career best 9.825s on bars. (Arizona State Sun Devils)

 

Auburn vs. Arkansas @ Auburn: Arkansas won this contest among the two biggest rising SEC schools, scoring 195.325 to Auburn's 195.15. Arkansas's Jaime Pisani won the all-around (39.425) and shared the bars title with Auburn's Kylie Shields and Leah Vining (9.825s for everyone) while Rachel Inniss won floor (9.9) and tied Allyson Sandusky for the beam title (9.9). Auburn's Toi Garcia won vault (9.9). (Arkansas Razorbacks)

 

Florida vs. Penn State and North Carolina State @ Florida: Gator chomp! This meet was all Florida. The Gators scored a season (and NCAA) best 197.5, putting them over Penn State (195.3) and North Carolina State (194.075). Ashanee Dickerson won balance beam with a near perfect 9.975, but freshman Alaina Johnson took everything else (9.95s to win vault and bars, a 9.925 for her "Twilight Zone" floor routine and a 39.6 all-around score). Florida is asserting itself -- its gymnasts are earning the right, meet by meet, to say that this is their year. (Florida Gators)

Kentucky vs. Georgia @ Kentucky: This one went to Georgia, by a little more than half a point. On the road, the Gym Dogs handled Kentucky, winning 195.550-195.0, though Kentucky certainly had its moments in this competition. One moment was the emergence of senior Phylicia Reshard, who was named Kentucky's Most Improved gymnast in 2010 and won the all-around with 39.25) and tied for first on floor with tmmate Jasmine Minion (9.875). Kentucky's Whitney Rose won vault (9.9), while Kat Ding was the top gymnast on bars (9.875). Georgia's strong beam trio -- Christa Tanella, Shayla Worley and Cassidy McComb -- split the title on that event, each scoring 9.875s. (Georgia Gym Dogs)

 

San Jose State vs. Sacramento State @ San Jose State: I don't remember the last time a gymnast was so dominant that she won the all-around title and all four events outright at an NCAA meet. So it came as a surprise to read that San Jose State's Thomasina Wallace did exactly that as San Jose won against Sacramento State 193.475-190.0. Her scores: 9.9 on vault, 9.825 on bars, 9.675 on beam and 9.85 on floor, which gave her an all-around total of 39.25. (San Jose Spartans)

 

Seattle Pacific vs. UC Davis @ Seattle Pacific: UC Davis gained much needed tenths on vault, where its top four gymnasts outscored Seattle Pacific, and Davis won the meet as a result, scoring 192.375 to SPU's 191.45. Davis's Marcy Miller took the all-around title (38.8), and teammate Anna Shumaker won vault (9.8) and beam (9.75). Davis's Michelle Ho was the champion on floor (9.825), and Seattle Pacific's Betsy Snook won bars (9.775). (Seattle Pacific Falcons)

 

Southeast Missouri State vs. Denver @ Southeast Missouri State: It was a battle between two well-matched teams, but in the end Denver edged host SEMO, 194.775-194.075. Louise Mercer won the all-around (39.05) and floor (9.875) and Taylor Sanford was the best on beam (9.8). SEMO's Brianna Gaddie won vault (9.875) and teammate Christina Sundg bars (9.85). (Denver Pioneers)

 

Utah vs. Stanford @ Utah: It was close, but Stanford edged Utah at home, 196.825-196.5. Utah, without Kyndal Robarts (injured knee), received a huge boost from freshman Victoria Shanley, who along with Corrie Lothrop contributed 9.875s to make up for Robarts's loss on that event. Nevertheless, it was Stanford's Shelley Alexander who won vault (9.9). Senior Allyse Ishino was the breakout gymnast at this meet, winning the all-around for just the second time in her NCAA career (39.475), as well as bars (9.9) and beam (9.9), where she tied with teammate Ashley Morgan and Utah's Mary Beth Lofgren. Morgan also won floor (9.925). (Utah Utes)

 

Washington vs. Oklahoma @ Washington: Oklahoma captured a victory in Seattle to remain undefeated so far this season, winning 196.175 to Washington's 195.1. Washington's Ruby Engreitz won the all-around with a 38.625 (once again, Oklahoma did not compete any gymnast on all four events). Natasha Kelley shone with first place finishes on bars and beam (a pair of 9.85s), while Washington's Haley Bogart tied Sara Stone for the vault title (9.9). Washington's Kristen Linton, a 2010 NCAA Championships qualifier, won floor (9.875). (Washington Huskies)

 

Wisconsin-La Crosse vs. Wisconsin-Oshkosh @ La Crosse: La Crosse bested in-state rival Oshkosh by almost 10 points, scoring 183.5 to Oshkosh's 183.85. La Crosse's Christa Booman continued her all-around domination, this week scoring 37.25. She also won bars (9.525) and tied teammate Tegan Oare for the vault title (9.5). La Crosse's Jen Andersen picked up the beam title (9.15) and Morgan Shene won floor (9.425). (UW-Oshkosh)

 

 

Army vs. Springfield @ Army: Springfield's Ty Evans won the all-around (82.8) and parallel bars (14.4) as his team lost to Army Friday, 330.9-327.5. Army's Kip Webber and Tim Tieng won rings (14.7) and pommel horse (13.9), respectively, while Army's Chase Brown picked up titles o n vault (15.4) and high bar (13.6). Springfield's Jeremy Pezzino was first on floor (14.3). (Army Black Knights)