Completed Event: Gymnastics versus NCAA Championship Final on April 19, 2025 , , 4th of 4 (197.2375)
Final Score
Gymnastics
4th of 4 (197.2375)
vs NCAA Championship Final
Friday, January 25
Tempe, Ariz.
7:30 PM
University of Utah
196.700
at
195.625
Arizona State
Ute Gymnasts Beat ASU 196.700-195.625
1/25/2008 12:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 25, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. -
The Utah gymnastics team looked plenty comfortable in its first road meet of the year and took home a 196.700-195.625 win over No. 20 Arizona State.
All week, coach Greg Marsden emphasized the importance of a good meet outside of the Huntsman Center, where Utah is 2-0. His team took note, producing a season-high score while going without a fall.
"I told the team beforehand that this is where it all has to start. Both regionals and nationals will be held in hostile road environments and we need to start preparing now," said Marsden. "I am very pleased that we continued to make progress and that several different gymnasts stepped in and performed well. If we can stay healthy, I'm going to keep giving different people an opportunity each week - either to count or as exhibition.
His lineup modifications went off without a hitch as his gymnasts hit 24-of-24 routines. Annie DiLuzio sat out of the beam and floor competition to rest a sore shin and her replacements both scored a 9.80 - Jamie Deetscreek on the beam and Jessica Duke on the floor. Nina Kim took her first stab of the season on the bars and responded with a 9.825 routine. The gymnasts competing in exhibition served notice that they are ready for scoring jobs as well. First-team All-American Beth Rizzo competed as exhibition on the floor and scored a 9.80 - her best mark of the year. Bijak got her first shot at the all-around as a collegian and scored a 39.15.
The change of locale certainly didn't affect Ashley Postell, who won her third all-around title in as many weeks, scoring a 39.475. Postell also remained unbeaten for the season on the balance beam, chipping in a season-best 9.925 score. Postell improved her season win total to nine by tying for first on the floor with Kristina Baskett and Stephanie Neff - all with 9.875s. It was Neff's first career victory as was fellow sophomore Daria Bijak's vault victory. Bijak score a career-best 9.875 from her lead-off position. Baskett made it a clean sweep for the Utes, winning the uneven bars with a season-high 9.925.
Utah took control right out of the gates, scoring a season-best 49.325. Certainly some of the improvement had to do with the best landings of the year. Kim's season-debut 9.825 was followed by a 9.85 by Jessica Duke and a 9.825 by Bijak. Baskett (9.925) and Postell (9.90) expanded Utah's first-event lead to 49.325-48.900.
In round two, Utah got the big vault at the top of the lineup by Bijak (9.875), but the next three Utes took a step on their landings. Baskett and Postell solved that issue, but flight deductions resulted in 9.825 and 9.775 scores. A 49.050, Utah's low vault score of the year, still bettered ASU's 48.85 on the bars. The score at the mid point was Utah 98.375, Arizona State 97.750.
Arizona State won a rotation for the first time in round three, scoring a 49.175 on the beam to Utah's 49.125 on floor. However, Utah scored a three-way tie for first on the floor, starting with Neff. The native of Mesa, Ariz. pleased a big hometown contingent with her best routine as a Ute, receiving her 9.875 from the No. 4 slot and getting the team back on track after Bijak stepped out of bounds. Baskett and Postell matched Neff and Bijak's score was discarded.
The Utes pulled away for good on the balance beam, posting a season-best 49.20 that included a 9.925 by Postell - her best score of the year. Other than a near fall by Baskett, this set was solid. Deetscreek led off with a 9.80, followed by a 9.775 by Robarts. After Baskett nearly went over, Kim reacted by scoring a 9.85. Ditto for Bijak and then Postell tucked away her third straight win on the beam.
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