Monday marked the end of the Bruins’ conference winning streak.

But they have not allowed the defeat to curb their preparation for the postseason.

“We absolutely opened the door with just steps on landings,” said coach Janelle McDonald. “No matter what is happening around us, we have to be dialed into those things that make us great. And so the team is really on board – they’re fired up to correct some of those things and bring great energy this weekend.”

No. 9 UCLA gymnastics will face off against No. 3 California at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday afternoon. The last time the Bruins met the Golden Bears was at the Super 16 season opener in Las Vegas, where they finished .300 behind their Northern California foes.

California is McDonald’s previous team – where she coached as an assistant – and the current team of graduate student Margzetta Frazier’s younger sister, eMjae Frazier.

“It doesn’t even feel like a rivalry, it just feels like bears competing against bears,” Margzetta Frazier said. “They’ve always been supportive and fun, down to the coaches, so I love competing against them and I can’t wait to see them.”

McDonald attributed the Bruins’ low rotation scores on beam and floor Monday to their mentality. She said it is easy to look around at close scores and get nervous but encouraged her team to stay connected and focused in its Bruin bubble.

The second-year coach added that the squad is executing this mindset on vault – the event it scored a season-high 49.525 on against Utah.

“It was really cool to see them go out with such great landings, dynamic vaults and just a lot of confidence to start the season,” McDonald said. “Those things they’re dialing in on vault – the aggressiveness and the focus, the competitiveness there – we’re excited to see them transition that into the other events as well.”

With junior Emma Malabuyo still away from the team – now in Germany for the Cottbus World Cup – there are a few new names on UCLA’s lineup, including sophomore Maddie Anyimi on vault and bars.

McDonald said she expects this weekend’s roster to remain similar, with a potential change to vault and beam depending on which gymnasts appear the most competitive and confident in practice.

A few weeks ago, Frazier said her goal was to compete a floor routine against Cal after being on the sidelines due to an ankle injury.

The last time the 2023 floor All-American competed on the event was at the NCAA Championships, where she tied her career-high 9.950 and finished fourth overall. In 13 floor routines during the 2023 season, Frazier scored a 9.900 or above nine times.

However, McDonald said although Frazier completed a full floor routine in practice last week, it may be a few more weeks until she competes on floor.

“I can do a floor routine, it’s just a matter of if I can do a bar routine and a floor routine,” Frazier said. “It’s just more working on my endurance with my ankle. The strength is back, the mobility is back and pain is barely there.”

Senior Chae Campbell has been away from the floor lineup the past few weeks after flare-ups before the Arizona meet.

She has been building back up to return to floor competition but will still need a bit more time to be fully prepared, McDonald said.

“We have depth on that event, so I anticipate this weekend is going to be a lot stronger there,” McDonald said.

Amid veteran absences, the Bruins will rely on their mindset and depth as they close their home stand.