Who wants to be number two? The UCLA gymnastics team certainly
doesn’t. A week removed from losing the No. 1 ranking in the
nation to Utah, the No. 2 Bruins (0-1) will look to reclaim the top
spot as they travel to Corvallis today to take on No. 8 Oregon
State (3-0) followed by the team’s home opener against No. 14
Nebraska (0-1) Monday, at Pauley Pavilion.
“We would like to get the No. 1 ranking back, for
sure,” junior Kate Richardson said. “It would
definitely be nice.” If history is any indication to go by,
UCLA might just get its wish starting at Oregon State. Led by last
season’s Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Chelsea Plourde, the
Beavers come into today’s meet in confident fashion, fresh
off of an impressive quad meet victory that moved them up four
spots nationally.
Nevertheless, the Beavers have been hard-pressed to find success
against UCLA, as the Bruins hold a comfortable 29-13 all-time
record in the showdown. In last season’s meet, UCLA tied the
all-time national scoring record in a 198.875-197.175 victory.
After the Oregon State meet, the Bruins look to defend their
home court for the first time this season and plan to do so in
extravagant fashion. Prior to Monday’s meet against the
Huskers, UCLA will unveil its 2004 NCAA Championship banner ““
an event that may very likely add an extra bit of inspiration to
this year’s squad. “The banner unveiling is definitely
going to add motivation,” Richardson said. “We’re
going to be so excited on Monday.”
And although it holds an overall 8-5 record against Nebraska,
UCLA may very well need that extra spark against a deep Husker
team. What makes Nebraska even more potent has been the return of
its top gymnast, 2003 NCAA Championship all-around winner senior
Richelle Simpson, who missed last year due to injury.
“We’re going into these back-to-back meets totally
prepared,” Richardson said. “We’re looking to
improve from last week’s performance, and if it puts us back
at No. 1, then that would be great.”