Head coach Rene Lyst coaches the ASU gymnastics team on Jan. 9, 2015, at Wells Fargo Arena. ASU hosts No. 19 Stanford this weekend. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)Last weekend was a forgettable one for the ASU gymnastics team.
After scoring a season-low 192.650 in their last meet the team dropped its season scoring average to 193.750 per meet, the worst average of the eight teams in the Pac-12.
Injuries and lack of depth have certainly hurt the Gym Devils this season, but they are confident that they are on the verge of getting back on track.
And that starts this weekend when ASU hosts No. 19 Stanford.
"We're trying to get another flow worker going," coach Rene Lyst said. "(Sophomore) Savannah (Borman) might go with a watered-down routine; we're not quite sure yet. We're working on the details, trying to get some people healed up within the next week or two so we can get back to full speed."
Borman competed on the vault at last weekend's Cal Quad Meet and scored a 9.575, her season high.
But ASU struggles with its lack of depth because of injuries.
Sophomores Gilly Hogue and Kellie Wanamaker have not competed this season and are sorely missed.
Last weekend, the Gym Devils had to compete a gymnast short in two rotations which affected their final score and kept them in last place of four teams at the end of the meet.
But rather than focus on last week, Lyst is excited to take on No. 19 Stanford.
"They're extremely talented," Lyst said. "They have some of the best gymnasts in the country on their team. They're one of the best programs in our sport, and I expect that they will be exceptionally strong."
The Cardinal average 195.225 points per meet this season, but they have had a lot of success against ASU in the last decade.
Stanford has won 28 of 29 meetings against the Gym Devils dating back to 2002, including 23 consecutive meets against ASU.
The Cardinal will enter Saturday's contest against ASU winners of three straight meets after coming in fourth in the Nor Cal Classic to open the season.
As for the Gym Devils, Stanford will be ASU's first dual-meet since the season opener when ASU beat Southern Utah, 194.200-193.925.
The Cardinal will be the first of a string of five-consecutive Pac-12 meets for the Gym Devils.
And while Lyst is ready for Pac-12 play, she was happy that ASU's schedule allowed for a few multi-team meets before their streak of dual-meets begins Saturday.
"Conference play, for the most part, will be dual-competition," Lyst said, "but all postseason competition has (more teams) compete so anytime you can get that opportunity during the season, it helps you prepare for the postseason."
"We have to be able to do both. That's what we have throughout the season," said Lyst.
ASU hosts No. 19 Stanford on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
Scouting the Opponent:
- Freshman Elizabeth Price is coming off a perfect 10 on the vault against Oregon State last weekend. She is the first Cardinal to score a 10 on any rotation since 2007. She also scored a 9.925 on bars.
- Redshirt junior Ivana Hong averages a 9.875 on the beam this season and scored a career-high 9.900 on Jan. 18.
- Redshirt senior Kristina Vaculik has missed every meet this year because of illness but could return to play the Gym Devils on Saturday. She was a 2014 All-Pac-12 first team selection in the all-around.
Reach the reporter at mtquesad@asu.edu or follow @mitchTquesada on Twitter.
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