Michigan State University
Cal
14th-Ranked Spartans Finish Second at Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad
1/13/2024 11:08:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – No. 14 Michigan State gymnastics posted a 196.725 to earn runner-up honors at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Saturday night at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah.
No. 6 Cal (5-1) took the top spot with a 197.875, while No. 19 BYU (1-5) finished third with a 196.100 and NC State (0-4) took fourth with a 195.675. MSU is now 3-3 (0-0 B1G) after facing five ranked teams through its first two meets.
"We're thrilled with our improvements from last week in Vegas to what we put out on the floor tonight," said head coach Mike Rowe. "The team is still competing for line-up positions and we've changed out a couple to give the younger contenders some real competitive experience."
MSU opened the meet with another successful showing on bars, totaling a 49.325. Sophomore Nikki Smith led the Spartans in the No. 5 spot with a 9.925 to mark her second-straight week with a 9.925 or higher on the event and tied with Cal's eMjae Frazier and Madelyn Williams for the event title. Senior Delanie Harkness earned a 9.875 in the anchor position, while sophomores Sage Kellerman and Olivia Zsarmani posted 9.850s and junior Gabrielle Stephen scored a 9.825. Through the first rotation, MSU sat in second place behind Cal who scored a 49.525 on vault.
A season-high 9.850 in the leadoff spot from senior Giana Kalefe led the guided the Spartans to a 48.800 on beam in the second rotation. Junior Skyla Schulte added another 9.800-plus score for MSU with a 9.825, while Stephen scored a 9.775 and Harkness scored a 9.750. Senior Baleigh Garcia added a 9.600 for the Spartans and freshman MaKayla Tucker made her collegiate beam debut with a 9.575.
The Spartans earned their best score of the night on floor with a 49.450. Two Spartans, sophomore Elle Beaufait and Tucker, earned career highs, with Beaufait posting a 9.900 in the leadoff spot for her first 9.900-plus score of her career, while Tucker scored a 9.875. Nikki Smith (9.900) also added a 9.900-plus score for the Spartans and Schulte scored a 9.925 in the anchor spot to take third overall on the event. Harkness and Nyah Smith, who made her first appearance of the season, scored 9.850s. After falling behind in the second rotation, MSU mounted a comeback on floor to move back into second place behind Cal heading into the final rotation.
The Spartans wrapped up the night with a 49.100 on vault. Kellerman led MSU on the event for the second-straight week, scoring a 9.925 to take third overall. Tucker earned her second career high of the night with a 9.825 in the No. 2 position. Nikki Smith scored a 9.850 in the anchor spot while Nyah Smith (9.775) made her first vault appearance of the season, Stephen scored a 9.775, and Zsarmani scored a 9.575 to hold the Spartans' secure MSU's second-place finish.
Cal's Frazier won the all-around title with a 39.775. MSU did not have any all-arounders Saturday night.
Nikki Smith was awarded the team's MVP award of the meet.
"Bars has stayed pretty consistent over the past two weeks while we've got some adjustments on beam to consider. Floor had major improvements and vault is still trying to sink some teeth into these upgraded Yurchenko 1-1/2s," concluded Row. "We've got a lot of fuel in the tank to be more competitive and opening our Big Ten season next Friday in State College, we'll need to be hitting on all cylinders to stay ahead of the Nittany Lions."
Up next, MSU opens the Big Ten season at Penn State on Friday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. The meet will stream on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
