April 14, 2006

ITHACA, N.Y. - Sophomore Michelle Kulovitz and freshman Adee Schoffman each scored career-best 9.800 scores on vault to lead UC Davis to a 48.600 on vault as part of a second-place score of 191.025 at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Team Final at Newman Arena Friday evening.

Top-seeded Texas Woman's University won the national title at 192.425. Host Cornell University finished third at 190.600, while William & Mary placed just behind at 190.550.

The Aggies, which placed first in Thursday's team prelims to advance to Friday's competition, fell just shy of the school-record 48.650 set earlier this year against Sacramento State. Although individual finishes are not compiled during the team final, Schoffman and Kulovitz were part of a four-way tie for the best vault score at the meet.

UC Davis also added season-best marks on balance beam and floor exercise, as each squad scored 48.525 for the meet. Junior Julia Richards had a meet-high 9.825 on beam, while Kulovitz and Katie Reinhardt finished with 9.725 scores. On floor exercise, Richards posted a 9.775 with Kulovitz and sophomore Carrie Lujan adding 9.700 marks.

The Aggies had the meet's highest team scores in each of the vault, beam and floor. Oddly, it was their best event of the season -- the uneven parallel bars -- that made the difference. Other than a 9.650 by senior Mei Ling Clark, a 9.600 from Brandi Forte and a 9.450 by Carolyn Kampf, UC Davis struggled on that apparatus, posting a season-low 45.375. UC Davis had scored 48 or better on bars seven times during the 2006 season.

The USAG Collegiate Nationals continues Saturday with the individual event championships. Kulovitz, Richards, Clark and Reinhardt each advanced to the competition by virtue of top-eight finishes during the Thursday prelims. Kulovitz also added a national title in the all-around also contested Thursday.

This year's national meet is the final competition for UC Davis head coach Ray Goldbar, who announced his retirement prior to the season. Goldbar launched the first Aggie varsity gymnastics programs back in 1974.

2006 USAG COLLEGIATE NATIONALS - TEAM FINAL

TEAM SCORES - 1. Texas Woman's 192.425; 2. UC Davis, 191.025; 3. Cornell, 190.600; 4. William & Mary, 190.550.

No individual finishes are compiled during team finals.