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Cal Improves to 5-0 with 194.875-194.250 Victory at Sac State

by calbears.com
Jan 9, 2015

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For just the second time in program history and the first time since 1992, the California women’s gymnastics team starts the season with five wins. The No. 14 Golden Bears (5-0, 1-0 Pac-12) improved their perfect record with a 194.875-194.250 win over Sacramento State Friday evening in Hornet territory.

The win marks the first time since 1992 that the Bears have started their season 5-0. In 1992, Cal went undefeated through three meets with six wins before losing to Washington in the fourth meet of the season.

The Bears claimed the title on every single event and improved their scores on 12 routines since last week’s NorCal Classic meet. Sophomore Charlie Owens won the all-around with a season-high 39.050.

While Cal started off slowly on the uneven parallel bars, the Bears finished with a solid 48.700 and claimed the top three totals on the event. Sophomore Dana Ho matched a career-best 9.825 to win the event, while freshman Toni-Ann Williams scored a 9.80 for the runner-up spot. Sophomore Amber Takara and Owens shared third for their 9.775 performances.

"Dana rocked anchoring the bar lineup for the second week in a row, and we can really see her confidence coming through there," said California head coach Justin Howell.

On vault, the Bears produced their strongest combined performance of the season to total 49.20 and lead 97.900-96.875 through two rotations. Sophomore Desiree Palomares led off with a career-high 9.775, setting the tone as the Bears upped their score by each routine. Junior Serena Leong was the night’s champion on the event with a 9.875, with Takara, freshman Arianna Robinson and Williams all earning 9.85s to tie for second.

"Our entire vault lineup was a highlight. To score a 49.2 at the beginning of the season is great, and I'm very, very pleased with how we finished up on vault," Howell said.

For the second week in a row, Williams claimed the floor exercise title after logging a career-best 9.90. Leong finished third with a season-high 9.775, and Owens upped her season-best to 9.725. The Bears finished with a 48.80 on floor, leading the Hornets 146.700-145.575 after three events.

"Toni is such a competitor and I think she's inspiring a lot of her teammates," Howell said.

Beam saw career-bests for three Bears – freshman Alicia Gallarzo, Ho and Owens. Gallarzo claimed her first collegiate event title for her 9.825 performance to contribute to Cal’s 48.175 beam total.

Despite the high points, Cal was not completely satisfied with its 194.875 score.

"We're considering this meet as an opportunity for growth. Ultimately, this team has to have a performance like this and know we're better than that," Howell said. "I know the girls were disappointed because they knew they were prepared. We fully expect this weekend that everyone's going to try to close that gap."

NEXT UP

The Golden Bears turn their sights southward to San Jose, where Cal meets San Jose State on Friday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.

NEWS & NOTES

  • Career-Bests: V: Palomares (9.775), Takara (9.85); UB: Ho (9.825), Palomares (8.9); BB: Gallarzo (9.825), Ho (9.775), Owens (9.775); FX: Williams (9.9)
  • Event Titles: V: Leong; UB: Ho; BB: Gallarzo; FX: Williams; AA: Owens
  • The Bears are a perfect 5-0 to start the season. It is the first time Cal has earned five wins to start the season since 1992, when the Bears claimed victory over six opponents in a span of three meets before losing to Washington in their fourth meet of the season.
  • Cal improves its record to 24-13 in the all-time series meeting between the Bears and the Hornets.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Join Cal Women’s Gymnastics in the social media realm for behind-the-scenes access to the Bears. Follow Cal on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for meet scores, practice updates, exclusive photos, videos and more. Find Cal at:

• Twitter: @CalWGym

• Facebook: Facebook.com/CalWomensGymnastics

• Instagram: @CalWGym

 

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