CLEVELAND — Judging by way the UCLA gymnastics team was hitting its vaults, it seemed as if the landing mat was a pillow.
The Bruins had four softly stuck landings on vault and just as many 9.90 plus scores in the third rotation of the NCAA Championship team finals. UCLA scored a 49.500 in the event.
They lead the competition tied with Alabama with a team total of 98.850 after three rotations. The Crimson Tide put together a vault score of 98.575 during the first rotation that has helped them hang on to the lead.
UCLA began with a bye and then competed on floor exercise, scoring a 49.350. Three 9.90 scores helped erase senior Niki Tom’s 9.250. Tom, who was the second Bruin of the day to compete, sat down after landing short during a tumbling pass.
Competing on both floor and vault so far, freshman Olivia Courtney looked unaffected by a hamstring injury that nagged her yesterday. Coach Valorie Kondos Field removed Courtney from the beam lineup yesterday as a precaution but she is slated to compete today.
In a random lottery before today’s Super Six meet, UCLA drew the same rotation order as yesterday’s semifinal competition. This means they will be performing on balance beam last and whether or not the Bruins can put together six solid routines could be the deciding factor in who wins the national championship.