After earning another team total of 195 or better for the third time this season, ASU (4-2-1) has moved up to No. 16 in the nation according to the recent GymInfo poll.
Tonight the team will travel to Seattle to challenge the Washington Huskies. Currently, Washington is unranked with a 2-3 record. Sophomore All-American Maggie Germaine said she believes the team has taken huge steps forward this season.
"I think we just need to keep moving forward and continue to improve," she said.
Germaine is nationally ranked on the floor exercise. With a 9.885 season average, she sits at the 23 spot for the event. Germaine said she feels most consistent on the floor exercise.
"I have nothing but good things to say about Maggie, she's a great floor worker and she's definitely on the right track," assistant coach Shelly Eaton said.
The Sun Devils hold national rankings in three out of four events so far this season. With a 48.555 season average they are ranked 20 on vault, a 48.800 average on the bars puts the team at 15, and an average of 48.875 gives the team a number 18 rank.
"In the back of our minds the ranks are important, but its not always something we are focusing on," Eaton said.
Earlier this season the team had set goals to achieve high scores in the 195 range. With that accomplished, the team is looking to hit all 24 routines versus Washington.
If anything were holding the team back, Junior Cassidy Vreeke said she believes it's the team's confidence, particularly on the balance beam. The exercise is the only one in which the team is not ranked and so far this season the Sun Devils have only been able to stick 17 out of the 30 total beam routines this season.
"I think we have gotten a little better every meet, but there are still some things to work on," Vreeke said.
Vreeke will not compete tonight due to a slight ankle sprain, but should return for next week. Freshman Trisha Dixon, who started the season in the all around competition, will only compete on vault and beam due to a sore back.
Junior Amber Giorgianni who was recovering from a torn ACL, has been cleared by physicians to work out and is progressing well. Senior All-American Laura Moon is slated to compete on the bars again this week and is probable for the beam next week.
Reach the reporter at amanda.bissette@asu.edu.
