May 7, 2007

DAVIS, Calif. - Junior Andi Dolinsky and freshman Tanya Ho were selected as co-recipents of their team's Gymnast of the Year award, it was announced at a team function Sunday.

Additionally, freshman Michelle Bobonski was named Most Improved, while veterans Julia Richards, Michelle Kulovitz and Carrie Lujan each won Coaches Awards. Finally, Lujan and Kulovitz were voted as team captains for 2008, replacing seniors Brandi Forte and Carolyn Kampf.

Dolinsky and Ho both represented UC Davis at the NCAA West Regional in April, scoring identical 9.700 scores on floor exercise and vault, respectively. Dolinsky was selected as Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Year, and she captured the conference's weekly honors on two different occasions. Ho won the vault in the first five meets of the season, and finished 18th in the West with a regional-qualifying score of 9.825.

Bobonski, an uneven bars specialist, overcame a slow start to hit season-best 9.575s on two occasions in March, including a ninth-place finish at the MPSF Championships.

Richards picked up her fourth All-MPSF award, making the second team on balance beam with a 9.560 RQS. She had her best overall 2007 meet in the home finale with Sacramento State, Cal and San Jose State, scoring 9.800 on floor and 9.825 on balance beam.

Kulovitz, the program's last USAG individual champion, earned second-team All-MPSF honors in the all-around. She scored a career-high 38.775 in a triangular meet at San Jose State, and scored a 9.700 or higher on vault in all but one meet.

Lujan made her all-around debut of 38.200 in a road dual at Seattle Pacific, then broke the 38-point barrier in three more meets during her junior year. She also made the All-MPSF second team on both vault and floor exercise, and was the alternate qualifier (behind Ho) on vault for the NCAA West Regional. Lujan, who redshirted the 2004 season, has opted to return for her fifth year and will serve as a team co-captain along with Kulovitz.

UC Davis, which completed its first season under head coach John Lavallee, opens its 2008 season at home against Cal on January 11.