The third-ranked UCLA gymnastics team will take on Pac-10 foe
No. 7 Stanford at Pauley Pavilion on Sunday. Stanford and UCLA are
the only two teams to win the Pac-10 title in the last seven years,
including last year’s UCLA victory at Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA is coming off a dominant performance against Cal State
Fullerton and Arizona State. The Bruins ended with a score of
197.55, more than a full point higher than either opponent. But
coach Valorie Kondos Field feels the team still has room to
grow.
“I am hoping that our team will take it up a notch,”
Kondos Field said. “We need to expand on our performance
quality, which will also expand and build our
confidence.”
Due to various injuries, the Bruins may rely on some less
experienced gymnasts. This year’s meet against the Cardinal
may hold a bit more importance after last year’s dual meet at
Palo Alto, in which UCLA’s comeback effort resulted in
identical scores of 197.45 for the Cardinal and the top-ranked
Bruins.
This Sunday will be a new chapter in the largely one-sided
rivalry between the two schools. UCLA leads the all-time series
with a 34-4-1 record.
“Right now we’re pretty healthy, but we’ve got
a few nicks and bruises that may force us to change our lineup, and
we may not be able to put up our best lineup,” Kondos Field
said. “Between now and then I hope we get some of our
athletes healthy enough that they can compete on Sunday.”
UCLA has competed all season long without senior Jamie
Dantzscher, who is still nursing an ankle injury. She is expected
to return by late February on at least three events.
Stanford’s season-high score of 197.4 came last week in a
meet against Washington, which included a perfect 10 by three-time
defending Pac-10 beam champion Lindsay Wing. While UCLA will be
juggling its lineup a bit, Stanford is anchored by four strong
all-arounders, including Wing and Natalie Foley. Foley ranks eighth
nationally in the all-around with an average of 39.65.
On the flip side, UCLA has its anchors as well, including Kate
Richardson and Jeanette Antolin, who are 1-2 in the nation in the
all-around with 39.762 and a 39.725, respectively. Another bright
spot has been the return of senior Kristen Maloney, who has
continued to improve in her first season back after two years of
rehab.
At the conclusion of Sunday’s meet, the Bruins will
participate in an autograph session at Pauley Pavilion.