After reaching third-highest team score in school history, ASU gymnastics heads to Utah for the third meet of the young season.
Last weekend the Sun Devils defeated Washington 197.3-194.15 at home. They set team and individual career high's; such a performance was unexpected so early in the season.
Utah, ranked just two spots behind No. 3 ASU, also had high scores in their second meet last week against Brigham Young, 196.8-194.7. The Ute's slipped from the No. 3 ranking, allowing ASU and the University of Alabama to take the No. 3 and No. 4 spots.
Utah's top all-around junior Melissa Vituj will prove to be a challenge for Sun Devil junior Maggie Germaine since they both have 39.625 personal bests for the season.
Also on top for Utah is sophomore Annabeth Eberle who is tied for fourth nationally on the uneven bars (9.95). Their all-arounders will include Erble, Vituj, Kim Allen, and Veronique Leclerc.
Three of Utah's gymnasts will be out this meet. Senior Theresa Kulikowski will be out for rib injury, and freshmen Dominique D'Olivieras with a broken ankle and Crystal Gilmore with back and quad injuries.
For ASU, Germaine set career highs against the Huskies on the uneven bars (9.9), the balance beam (9.9) and the floor exercise (9.95). Her all-around score of 39.625 was the highest ever recorded since Laura Moon's 39.6 in 2001.
Senior Ashley Ellsberry also posted career highs against Washington. She garnered a 9.925 on the floor exercise, 9.8 on the vault, 9.875 on the uneven bars, 9.9 on the balance beam, and a 39.5 for the all-around.
Freshman Ashley Kelly gave people something to talk about last weekend as she boasted career highs in all four events and came in second in the all-around with a 39.55. Kelly scored a 9.85 on the vault, 9.9 on the uneven bars, 9.95 on the balance beam, and a 9.8 on the floor exercise.
Winning the uneven bars event, sophomore Kari Muth also set a career high of 9.9.
Reach the reporter at kelley.karnes@asu.edu.
