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Utah State's gymnastics program remained perfect on the young season with a 194.100-193.500 victory against 16th-ranked Kent State in front of an announced crowd of 1,203 Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Utah State Gymnastics Defeats No. 16 Kent State at Home

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Women's Gymnastics 1/15/2016 12:00:00 AM
Jan. 15, 2016

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

LOGAN, Utah -

Utah State's gymnastics program remained perfect on the young season with a 194.100-193.500 victory against 16th-ranked Kent State in front of an announced crowd of 1,203 Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

With the win, the No. 26 Aggies (2-0, 0-0 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference) improved to 2-2 at home against ranked opponents under third-year head Nadalie Walsh. It is also the first time since the 2014 campaign that Utah State has started a season 2-0.

"There are so many things I'm pleased with," Walsh said. "We did a much better job showing off our floor routines, but we can still improve on vault. The potential is there, so that's great. We didn't do as well on beam, but after the second mistake I said to the girls, 'Are you going to lay down or are you going to get up and go after it?' They got after it and I'm really proud of them."

The Aggies recorded a season-high 48.600 on vault, a 48.675 on bars, 48.000 on beam and a season-high 48.825 on floor for the night. The Golden Flashes posted scores of 48.250 on vault, 47.900 on bars, 48.450 on beam and a 48.900 on floor.

Utah State has now scored at least a 194.100 in 15 consecutive meets.

Senior McKinzey Martinez led the way for Utah State as she won the all-around for the second meet in a row, this time with a 38.500. The native of Kimberly, Idaho, tallied scores of 9.775 on vault, 9.750 on bars, 9.175 on beam and a season-high 9.800 on floor.

Eight different Aggies earned a total of 13 top-five finishes to highlight the night. Three different gymnasts captured titles on the night as senior Jillian Chappel won the vault with a season-high score of 9.800. Juniors Charly Belliston and Bailey McIntire shared the bars title as each recorded a 9.775.

"I felt super confident going out there," McIntire said. "It was just like another day doing a routine. I just did what I know I could do, so it was fun."

McIntire also tied for second on floor (season-high 9.800) and took fourth on vault (9.725). Junior Hayley Sanzotti capped her solid night with a pair of 9.800s on beam and bars, respectively to finish second in both events.

"I'm really proud of Hayley Sanzotti," Walsh said. "She doesn't always get the spotlight, but she carries the team in many ways and I'm really proud of her. You can depend on her, she's clean and sassy, and I think the crowd loved her. Hopefully, the fans had a really good time tonight."

The Aggies led after each rotation and were up 92.275-96.150 at the midway point of the meet. However, the Golden Flashes (1-1) closed the gap after the third rotation.

Utah State stumbled a bit on beam and had to count a fall, and after Kent State nearly recorded a 49.000 on floor, the Golden Flashes were within 145.275-145.050.

"Beam is just one of those things where you're either on or you're off," Martinez said. "Tonight, we had an off night and there's not a whole lot we can do about it except go back to the gym and work on our consistency, then go out to the next meet and be confident and know we're going to hit."

The Aggies bounced back in a big way on floor, though. Sophomore Keri Peel led things off for Utah State with a career-high 9.750, while Chappel followed suit with a career-best 9.600.

Sanzotti kept the momentum rolling with her season-high 9.800, which Martinez and McIntire both matched. Freshman Emily Briones capped the meet for Utah State with a career-best 9.675 on floor.

"We went in with confidence," McIntire said. "Floor is so much fun for us. We love dancing in our routines and stuff, so we just did what we know how to do. It was fun. There wasn't any pressure because we knew we could do it, so it was good."

The Aggies will hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Cedar City, Utah, to face MRGC foe Southern Utah (1-2, 0-0) on Friday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m. The following week, the same two teams will square off at the Spectrum on Jan. 29, also at 7 p.m.

The 30th-ranked Thunderbirds lost to No. 7 Utah on Friday night, 196.725-195.600.

For USU gymnastics ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305, or online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Fans can follow the Aggie gymnastics program at twitter.com/USUGymnastics, on Facebook at Utah State Gymnastics, and on Instagram at USUGymnastics. Fans can also follow the USU athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at UtahStateAthletics.

Utah State vs Kent State - Logan, Utah - Dee Glen Smith Spectrum - January 15, 2015

Team Results: 1. Utah State - 194.100 (vault: 48.600, bars: 48.675, beam: 48.000, floor: 48.825); 2. Kent State - 193.500 (vault: 48.250, bars: 47.900, beam: 48.450, floor: 48.900)

All-Around: 1. McKinzey Martinez - USU, 38.500 (vault: 9.775, bars: 9.750, beam: 9.175, floor: 9.800)

Vault: 1. Jillian Chappel - USU, 9.800; 2. McKinzey Martinez - USU, 9.775; 3. Dara Williams - KSU, 9.750; 4. Bailey McIntire - USU, 9.725; 5. Kennedy Plude - KSU, 9.700; T-6. Hayley Sanzotti - USU, 9.650; T-6. Miranda Hone - USU, 9.560; 9. Michelle Yasukochi - USU, 9.600.

Bars: T-1. Charly Belliston - USU, 9.775; T-1. Bailey McIntire - USU, 9.775; T-3. McKinzey Martinez - USU, 9.750; T-3. Brooke Timko - KSU, 9.750; 5. Miranda Hone - USU, 9.700; T-6. JoAnna Cuba - USU, 9.675; 11. Melanie Oster - USU, 9.200.

Beam: 1. Rachel Stypinski - KSU, 9.850; 2. Hayley Sanzotti - USU, 9.800; T-3. Melanie Oster - USU, 9.750; T-3. Kennedy Plude - KSU, 9.750; T-5. Keri Peel - USU, 9.700; T-5. Brooke Timko - KSU, 9.700; 8. Emily Briones - USU, 9.500; 10. Charly Belliston - USU, 9.250; 11. McKinzey Martinez - USU, 9.175.

Floor: 1. Jordan Hardison - KSU, 9.825; T-2. Bailey McIntire - USU, 9.800; T-2. McKinzey Martinez - USU, 9.800; T-2. Hayley Sanzotti - USU, 9.800; T-2. Rachel Stypinski - KSU, 9.800; T-2. Nicolle Eastman - KSU, 9.800; 8. Keri Peel - USU, 9.750; 10. Emily Briones - USU, 9.675; 12. Jillian Chappel - USU, 9.600.

-USU-

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Players Mentioned

Emily Briones

Emily Briones

All-Around
4' 9"
Freshman
Miranda Hone

Miranda Hone

VT, UB, BB
5' 6"
Freshman
Melanie Oster

Melanie Oster

All-Around
5' 1"
Freshman
Charly Belliston

Charly Belliston

All-Around
5' 3"
Freshman
Jillian Chappel

Jillian Chappel

All-Around
5' 3"
Sophomore
McKinzey Martinez

McKinzey Martinez

All-Around
5' 5"
Sophomore
Bailey McIntire

Bailey McIntire

All-Around
5' 2"
Freshman
Keri Peel

Keri Peel

All-Around
5' 6"
Freshman
JoAnna Cuba

JoAnna Cuba

All-Around
5' 8"
Freshman
Hayley Sanzotti

Hayley Sanzotti

All-Around
5' 1"
Freshman
Michelle Yasukochi

Michelle Yasukochi

All-Around
5' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Emily Briones

Emily Briones

4' 9"
Freshman
All-Around
Miranda Hone

Miranda Hone

5' 6"
Freshman
VT, UB, BB
Melanie Oster

Melanie Oster

5' 1"
Freshman
All-Around
Charly Belliston

Charly Belliston

5' 3"
Freshman
All-Around
Jillian Chappel

Jillian Chappel

5' 3"
Sophomore
All-Around
McKinzey Martinez

McKinzey Martinez

5' 5"
Sophomore
All-Around
Bailey McIntire

Bailey McIntire

5' 2"
Freshman
All-Around
Keri Peel

Keri Peel

5' 6"
Freshman
All-Around
JoAnna Cuba

JoAnna Cuba

5' 8"
Freshman
All-Around
Hayley Sanzotti

Hayley Sanzotti

5' 1"
Freshman
All-Around
Michelle Yasukochi

Michelle Yasukochi

5' 1"
Freshman
All-Around
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