Frida Esparza pumped up the crowd on bars and electrified the student section with the guitar.

And the combination of the two led the graduate student to the highest score of her career. 

With Esparza kickstarting the day with an electric guitar rendition of the national anthem, No. 5 UCLA defeated No. 25 Penn State 197.675-195.450 in the Bruins’ annual Pride Meet at Pauley Pavilion on Friday night. 

“Having it on Valentine’s Day was extra special,” said freshman Mika Webster-Longin. “We carried that with us through each event, showing our love for each other, for gymnastics and for everyone.”

UCLA’s win was led by a season-high 49.575 total on bars. Senior Emma Malabuyo posted the rotation’s first 9.900 mark in the third spot, sticking her dismount and extending her seasonlong streak of posting marks of 9.850 or higher on the event. Graduate student Chae Campbell notched a season high of her own, posting a 9.875 to record one of four stuck landings from UCLA.

The biggest spark came from Esparza and junior Jordan Chiles, with both earning a 10 from one judge in their routines and posting 9.975 marks – a career high for Esparza.

“It was one of those times where it was like my body found the rhythm, so I could turn my brain off, and I didn’t have to worry about anything,” Esparza said. “There are no words to describe it.”

On vault, the Bruins put up five 10.000 start value routines despite tying their season-low 49.100 mark on the event. Webster-Longin posted UCLA’s only score of at least 9.850 to earn her first career event title vault, setting a new career high in the process.

Freshman Riley Jenkins made her second collegiate lineup appearance to post a 9.800 in the first spot, taking over the leadoff position from UCLA’s signature tone setter, senior Emily Lee. 

“Riley, Mika and Macy (freshman Macy MacGowan) – three freshmen in the lineup – were attacking the warmup and nailing it,” said coach Janelle McDonald. “That was such a game changer for us.”

Veterans Campbell and Chiles both fell short of their season averages to post a pair of 9.825 scores.

Heading into beam, the Bruins carried a one-point lead. Even with that cushion, all six gymnasts nailed their landings on beam and propelled the squad to a 49.450 beam total. 

Lee kicked off the rotation, tying her beam season high with a 9.925 tally. Graduate student Brooklyn Moors also tied her career high with her second consecutive 9.900 mark. The nation’s No. 3-ranked beam worker, Malabuyo, recorded her first score of the season below the 9.900 mark, with a 9.825. 

UCLA capped off its day on floor and posted a 49.550 total to secure the win.  The Bruins are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation on floor, with three gymnasts individually ranked in the top 15 on the event. 

Webster-Longin got the rotation rolling with a career-high 9.900 in her fourth career appearance on floor.

“Knowing that I have the numbers under my belt from preseason and trusting all the hard work that I put in is allowing me to have confidence on the competition floor,” Webster-Longin said.

The nation’s top floor worker, Moors, tallied a 9.950, improving on her 9.937 season average. Chiles, the third-ranked gymnast on floor, also earned a 9.950. Campbell, the No. 14 floor worker in the nation, earned a 9.850, falling short of her 9.905 season average.

The night marked UCLA’s third meet of the season in which it claimed victory with a margin greater than 2 points. 

Next week, the Bruins will leave the comfort of Westwood to face No. 16 Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.