While it might sound like a broken record, sophomore Ashley Kelly doesn't mind the racket.
For the fourth straight meet, the diminutive Kelly was larger then her stature, again winning the all-around title and leading the No. 21 ASU women's gymnastics team to a 198.45-194.875 victory over Eastern Michigan Friday night and establishing a new school record in the process.
"It doesn't ever get boring," Kelly said of the victory. "It kind of felt the same, but just everyone is jelling. We are getting up hitting, and we're having some falls, but other people are getting up and hitting."
Kelly's best came on the beam, where she recorded a perfect 10, her first ever in the event and her fifth perfect score in her career. The victory in the all-around was the ninth of her short but memorable career.
Riding another Kelly victory, the Sun Devils (9-6) breezed through the Eagles in preparation for the Pac-10 Championships in two weeks.
The high score for ASU surpassed the previous record, set last year against Kentucky (198.275).
While it didn't have the prestige of last's week's meets against ranked opponents Nebraska and rival UA, ASU set a new school record on the bars, breaking the previous record set earlier this year against Oregon State by nearly a point, but the path didn't look as bright in the opening event.
After senior Jada Cox fell in the first vault, ASU's opening event, the Sun Devils had to put the minor setback behind them, and do so by recording a 49.475, the second-best vault score of the season. Freshman April Boone had a career-high 9.9, and senior Maggie Germaine tied her career high, also recording a 9.9.
While starting the season with the vault as an apparent weakness, ASU has recorded its top three scores on the vault in its last three appearances.
"I think we put a lot more energy into [the vault]," said ASU head coach John Spini. "I expect them to get a few more numbers and take less turns to get those numbers."
Riding the momentum of the vault performance, the Sun Devils scored a 49.6 on the uneven bars, .75 points higher than their old school record, set against Oregon State in February.
Again, the Sun Devils had a fall in the event -- this time Carla DeMartini on a transition -- but were able to shake it off. Freshman Cassandra Jusino tied her career high with a 9.925.
Kelly's perfection wasn't the only notable performance on the 4-inch-wide beam. Sophomore Lauren Powell established a new career high with a 9.9, and Amber Giorgianni tied her best career mark with a 9.95. As a team, the Sun Devils' 49.625 score was a season high.
The floor was the only aspect in which Kelly did not finish with a tie or sole possession of first, thanks to two perfect performances from her teammates.
Junior Kari Muth had her first perfect performance followed by the 10 by Germaine. Flawlessness is nothing new to the senior -- the 10 was her third this season on the floor and seventh all-time. As a team, ASU finished with 49.75, its second-highest mark of the season.
Up Next
Following the win, ASU is back in action Friday against Minnesota. The meet is the final home appearance for the Sun Devils before they head to the Pac-10 Championships in Tucson on March 20.
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
