UCLA Wins Regular Season Finale, 197.100-193.575
LOS ANGELES - UCLA closed the regular season with a 197.100-193.575 victory over San Jose State in the senior class' final meet in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Bruin seniors Nia Dennis and Pauline Tratz picked up individual event victories, with Dennis and Tratz tying for first on floor exercise and Dennis winning vault. Freshman Chae Campbell won the all-around with a 39.500 and also tied for first on floor exercise, and a pair of juniors won on uneven bars (Margzetta Frazier with a 9.9) and balance beam (Samantha Sakti with a 9.9).
On vault, all three seniors in the lineup posted the Bruins' top marks, with Dennis scoring 9.9 to win the event. Tratz set a new season-high with a 9.875 at the top of the lineup with a stuck Yurchenko layout full vault, and Poston followed with a big handspring front pike half that tied her season-best of 9.875. Campbell also scored 9.875 to send the Bruins to a team total of 49.325. San Jose State scored 48.725 on uneven bars, with Mercedez Sanchez scoring 9.700 in her return to Pauley Pavilion as a Spartan graduate transfer.
The seniors are SHOWING OUT! 9.9 for @DennisNia!
💻 https://t.co/PA3c40zqhS
📊 https://t.co/nFCILI7HaV pic.twitter.com/AnskZJfAG7— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) March 13, 2021
The Bruins moved to uneven bars in the second rotation, where they were led by Frazier's 9.900 and Frida Esparza's 9.875. Sara Ulias earned a 9.850, Campbell added a 9.825, and Savannah Kooyman scored 9.650 to contribute to a 49.100 team total, increasing UCLA's lead to 98.425-97.075 after San Jose State scored 48.350 on vault.
Poston led off in rotation three with another outstanding routine in her final meet in Pauley, hitting her three-series with absolute confidence and scoring 9.800. Sakti, in her only routine of the meet, scored 9.900, receiving a 9.950 from one judge. It was her sixth 9.900 score of the season. After Frazier's 9.775, Campbell followed with a 9.875, and Esparza added a 9.825 to get UCLA to a 49.100. Additionally, sixth-year senior Nicole Shapiro recorded a 9.850 in an exhibition performance in her final meet in Pauley Pavilion.
What a way to end her career in Pauley! It's another outstanding routine for @KendalPoston and a 9.800.
💻 https://t.co/PA3c40zqhS
📊 https://t.co/nFCILI7HaV pic.twitter.com/tKkiXAHS5R— UCLA Gymnastics (@uclagymnastics) March 13, 2021
UCLA saved the best for last, scoring a season-high 49.500 on floor exercise. The final three competitors – Campbell, Tratz and Dennis – each scored 9.925 to earn first-place honors. UCLA's other scorers were Emma Andres, who led off with a season-high 9.850, and Sekai Wright, who tied her career-high with a 9.875.
The Bruins (6-2), who finished the year unbeaten at home with a 4-0 record, will next compete at the Pac-12 Championships on Saturday, Mar. 20.