UCLA succumbs to Lions at hapless tri-meet upset

Tuesday, January 19, 1999

UCLA succumbs to Lions at hapless tri-meet upset

GYMNASTICS: High vault scores unable to recover

fall on beam to Penn State

By Traci Mack

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

If there’s been a motto to the UCLA women’s gymnastics season so
far, it’s been, "Expect the unexpected." Less than a week after
almost beating No. 1 Georgia at home, the Bruins were upset in
Pennsylvania this weekend. The No. 3 Bruins’ record now stands at
0-2 after being shocked by the No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions on
Saturday, 193.825 to 193.525.

There were individual bright spots for UCLA in the tri-meet,
which also included University of New Hampshire. In the first
rotation, Bruins Heidi Moneymaker and Lena Degteva posted twin
9.850 scores on the uneven bars, taking first overall in the event.
Meanwhile, Penn State started off on the vault, using consistent
performances to come out of the first rotation leading UCLA 49.200
to 48.650.

The beam turned out to be the giant-killer in the Bruins’ second
rotation. Senior Kiralee Hiyashi fell victim to the 4 inch-wide
monster, turning in a shaky routine and earning a 9.225. Anchor leg
performer Luisa Portacarrero, an All-American on the beam, was also
a casualty, posting an uncharacteristic 9.325. The Bruins’ high
score on beam was a 9.9850, put up by both Moneymaker and freshman
first-timer Valerie Velasco.

Despite the Bruins’ literal downfall on the balance beam, the
Nittany Lions fared no better on the uneven bars, with four out of
six performances below 9.50. Penn State captain Janae Whitaker was
especially unlucky, suffering a severe injury to her knee during
her dismount. UCLA was consistent by comparison, and went into the
halfway point of the meet leading, 96.750 to 96.125.

Then came what seemed to be a breather for the Bruins – their
third rotation in what many would call their strongest event – the
floor exercise. But things went downhill quickly, with freshman
Lindsey Dong and senior Allison Stoner stepping out of bounds after
tumbling passes for deductions. Add to that a sitdown by Lena
Degteva, and the door was open for the Lions to roar back.

And roar back they did. Riding a 9.950 by Missy Leopoldus on the
beam, Penn State came back to take the lead once and for all with
144.950 to the Bruins’ 144.875.

Not even strong vaults could lift UCLA over Penn State in the
fourth rotation. Degteva boasted a 9.90, and Hiyashi racked up a
9.800, but it was all for naught as the Nittany Lions went for
broke on floor exercise. The meet came down to the final performer,
as Leopoldus’ 9.825 came to make the difference between a Bruin
victory or a Lion triumph.

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