Feb. 8, 2008

Final Stats

DAVIS, Calif. - Senior Michelle Kulovitz and freshman Stacey Nicolini each scored career-high marks in event wins on floor exercise and balance beam, respectively, as UC Davis compiled a second-place team score of 190.025 in a women's collegiate gymnastics dual meet with Cal State Fullerton at the Pavilion Friday. The Titans won the meet with a 192.275 total.

The event was the fourth installment of the "Beauty & The Beast" promotion, during which the Aggie gymnastics and wrestling teams compete concurrently on the Pavilion floor. The meet drew a season-best crowd of 1,318.

Kulovitz scored a winning 9.825 to capture the win on floor exercise, well ahead of teammate Adee Schoffman's second-place score of 9.725. That score capped a strong overall performance by the senior co-captain: Kulovitz also carded a 9.750 on vault and a 9.575 on uneven bars.

Nicolini won the balance beam with a career-best 9.750 while contributing a 9.775 on vault. Collectively, UC Davis scored a 48.675 on vault in the opening rotation to take the early lead, then struggled to a 46.525 on uneven bars to fall behind by more than a full point at the midway point. The Aggies held a 95.200 after two rotations while the Titans hit a 48.625 on vault to jump up to 96.450.

Freshman Maddie Steinauer scored a 9.850 to capture the vault title for Fullerton, just ahead of UC Davis sophomore Michelle Bobonski's lifetime best of 9.800. Titan sophomore Britni Echeverria added a bars win with her 9.700 score, while freshman Alaina Baker won the all-around at 38.275.

Junior Adee Schoffman turned in a strong 9.725 on floor from the leadoff position, then sophomore Lida Gehlen made her season debut in the event with a 9.600. Senior Andi Dolinsky also chipped in a 9.600 on floor, helping UC Davis offset two misses. The Aggies posted a 47.600 on floor after a 47.225 on balance beam.

With the gymnastics win, Cal State Fullerton swept the Beauty & The Beast event, also picking up a 27-9 win in the wrestling dual. This is the first year that both UC Davis teams faced off against the same school in the promotion.

The Aggie gymnasts return to action on February 16 for a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation meet at Air Force.

TEAM SCORES - 1. Cal State Fullerton, 192.275; 2. UC Davis, 190.025.

VAULT - 1. Maddie Steinauer, CSF, 9.850; 2. Michelle Bobonski, UC Davis, 9.800; 3 (tie). Stacey Nicolini, UC Davis; Alaina Baker, CSF, 9.775.

UNEVEN BARS - 1. Britni Echeverria, CSF, 9.700; 2. Shelly Cooper, CSF, 9.600; 3 (tie). Michelle Kulovitz, UC Davis; Taylor Miller, CSF, 9.575.

BALANCE BEAM - 1. Stacey Nicolini, UC Davis, 9.750; 2. Jessica Merriam, CSF, 9.725; 3 (tie). Jessica Tait, CSF; Melissa Schafer, CSF; Alaina Baker, CSF; 9.650.

FLOOR EXERCISE - 1. Michelle Kulovitz, UC Davis, 9.825; 2. Adee Schoffman, UC Davis, 9.725; 3. Shelly Cooper, CSF, 9.650.

ALL-AROUND - 1. Alaina Baker, CSF, 38.275; 2. Tanya Ho, UC Davis, 37.475.