Jan. 18, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - After leading through three events, Utah State couldn't hold its advantage in the fourth, falling to two-time defending WAC champion Sacramento State, 192.575-191.050, Friday night in a WAC gymnastics dual in the Aggies' home opener at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

With the loss, USU now has an 0-2 overall and 0-2 WAC ledger while Sac State evens its record at 1-1 in both overall and conference action.

The Hornets took three of the top four all-around positions, with Marina Borisova capturing top honors with a 39.150. Melissa Genovese was second with a 38.775 while USU junior Nicki Felley was third at 38.025 and Sac State's Eryn Stubble was fourth with a 37.850. USU freshman Nicole Simoneau was fifth while sophomore teammate Heather Heinrich was sixth, scoring 37.650 and 37.050, respectively.

USU's lineup suffered a jolt before the meet even officially began, as freshman Maegan Snodgrass, who was scheduled to lead off, suffered an ankle injury during warm-ups on vault, the Aggies' first rotation. She was replaced in the lineup by fellow freshman Lyndsie Boone.

Nonetheless, freshmen Chelsea Marquardt and Jasmine Minion each stuck a 9.800 to share top honors on vault, which is the highest score on the event this season for USU. Borisova was third with a 9.725.

On bars, Simoneau nabbed top honors in the event for the second meet in a row, topping her previous high mark with a 9.825. Borisova was second with a 9.750 while Marquardt was third with a personal-best 9.700.

The Hornets swept the beam by registering a WAC season-high 48.900 as a team in the final rotation. Melissa Genovese won the event with a 9.875 while Elizabeth Norvell and Borisova tied for second with 9.850's each.

USU senior Megan Tschida tallied an Aggie season best mark with a 9.850 in winning the floor exercise, while Borisova was second with a 9.825 and Minion third with a 9.625.

Utah State continues its two-meet homestand by hosting Boise State in a WAC dual on Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The Aggies open a three-meet road swing on Sunday, Jan. 27 at Cal State Fullerton before heading to Southern Utah on Monday, Feb. 4, both conference duals. USU then is in a quad meet with Oklahoma and Air Force, hosted by Denver, on Saturday, Feb. 9.

Utah State returns to the friendly confines of the Spectrum on Friday, Feb. 15, taking on in-state foe BYU along with New Hampshire.

All Aggie home meets begin at 6:30 p.m.

Gymnastics tickets are available through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by calling 1-888-U-STATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.

Gymnastics
Sacramento State at Utah State
Jan. 18, 2008 - Dee Glen Smith Spectrum - Logan, Utah
Vault - 1. Jasmine Minion - USU, 9.800; 1. Chelsea Marquardt - USU
 9.800; 3. Marina Borisova - SAC, 9.725; 4. Heather Heinrich - USU,
9.650; 6. Nicki Felley - USU, 9.600; 9. Nicole Simoneau - USU, 9.575;
 11. Lyndsie Boone - USU; 8.900.
Bars - 1. Nicole Simoneau - USU, 9.825; 2. Marina Borisova - SAC,
 9.750; 3. Chelsea Marquardt - USU, 9.700; 5. Nicki Felley - USU,
 9.650; 9. Megan Tschida - USU, 9.100; 10 Katie Omann - USU, 9.050;
 12. Heather Heinrich - USU, 8.850.
Beam - 1. Melissa Genovese - SAC, 9.875; 2. Elizabeth Norvell - SAC,
 9.850; 2. Marina Borisova - SAC, 9.850; 5. Nicki Felley - USU, 9.675;
 6. Chelsea Marquardt - USU, 9.625; 7. Heather Heinrich - USU, 9.600;
 8. Jasmine Minion - USU, 9.550; 8. Megan Tschida - USU, 9.550; 12.
 Nicole Simoneau - USU, 9.075.
Floor - 1. Megan Tschida - USU, 9.850; 2. Marina Borisova - SAC,
 9.825; 3. Jasmine Minion - USU, 9.625; 5. Lyndsie Boone - USU, 9.550;
 10. Nicole Simoneau - USU, 9.175; 11. Nicki Felley - USU, 9.100; 12.
 Heather Heinrich - USU, 8.950.

-USU-