LOGAN, Utah – Adversity continues to be a thorn in the side of Utah State's gymnastics team this season. Despite that, the Aggies continue to fight it.
 
Such was the case Friday night against Boise State at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Not only were the Aggies missing several key gymnasts, they had another one go down due to injury while warming up on floor.
 
As a result, Utah State just did not have enough fire power in its arsenal and the Broncos took advantage by beating the Aggies 196.075-193.325 in front of 1,634 fans.
 
"At the end of the day, adversity is going to happen in every sport," said first-year Utah State head coach Kristin White. "It's how you handle it as a coaching staff, it's how you handle it as a student-athlete, it's how you handle it as a team together. I know that we're going to go back, and we're going to continue to work hard because that's what we do every single week. We were hit with a lot of adversity tonight, but we're going to be fine. These young ladies, they have heart, and they're going to get through it."
 
Boise State (2-5, 2-2 Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference) captured all four event titles, but for the third-consecutive week, Utah State junior Brianna Brooks won the all-around with a 39.075. The native of Las Vegas, Nevada, placed 10th on vault (9.700), tied for fifth on bars (9.775), tied for third on beam (9.825) and tied for eighth on floor (9.775).
 
Freshman Avery Bibbey, who had only competed on bars through the first four meets of the season, found herself in two event lineups on Friday. She placed seventh on bars, 11th on floor and also performed an exhibition on vault.
 
"Going into tonight, we only had five floor routines that we were going to put up and unfortunately, we had an athlete go down and only had four floor routines to put out there," White said. "Avery stepped up to the plate and did the floor routine that she could do. For me, that was a highlight because even when adversity happens, it's how you handle it, and it's what you do for your team to help them continue to be successful and she did that tonight. I couldn't be more proud of her."
 
Utah State opened the meet on vault and recorded a 48.625, highlighted by a fourth-place finish with a 9.800 from senior Alivia Ostendorf. Sophomore Amari Evans placed fifth with a career-high-tying 9.775.
 
The Broncos opened with a 48.925 on bars and led the entire way from there.
 
In the second rotation, the Aggies (suffered three falls on bars and had two count two in their team score, which was a 47.375. Grad senior Grace Rojas led Utah State on the event as she placed third with a 9.875.
 
Boise State turned in a 49.025 on vault in the second rotation and led 97.950-96.000 at the midway point of the meet.
 
"We came in a lot more confident than we did last week at Boise State," Ostendorf said. "I was prepared to have a good meet. Obviously, it didn't go the way we wanted it to, and I just wish we would've done what we did in practice, because we can do it. We just need to show everybody that we can."
 
The Aggies' best event of the night was on beam in the third rotation, where they finished with a 48.925. Joining Brooks in a tie for third was junior Jenna Eagles, who was a late addition to the lineup, but still came through with a career-high 9.825.
 
"Originally, we weren't going to have Jenna compete in the lineup on beam tonight," White said. "But, she proved in warmups that she wanted that spot. She did a great job and I'm very proud of her."
 
With only five gymnasts competing in the final rotation, Utah State closed the meet on floor with a 48.400. Ostendorf and fellow senior Ariel Toomey tied for third with matching 9.825s.
 
"We just need to learn how to put everything together," Ostendorf said. "We have the talent, we have the confidence, we have everything in the gym, we just are having trouble putting it together, which, I think, is our biggest struggle. When we can do that, we are going to be very successful."
 
NEXT MEET
 
Utah State wraps up its two-meet homestand on Friday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m., when it welcomes No. 21 Southern Utah to the Spectrum. Tickets can be purchased here.
 
Boise State at Utah State | Logan, Utah | Dee Glen Smith Spectrum | February 10, 2023 
Team Results: 1. Boise State – 196.325 (vault: 49.400, bars: 48.375, beam: 49.300, floor: 49.250); 2. Utah State –195.675 (vault: 48.950, bars: 49.050, beam: 48.350, floor: 49.325).
 
Vault: 1. Courtney Blackson – BSU, 9.875; 2. Adriana Popp – BSU, 9.850; 3. Emily Lopez – BSU, 9.825; 4. Alivia Ostendorf – USU, 9.800; 5. Amari Evans – USU, 9.775; 6. Dani Nakayma – BSU, 9.750; T7. Payton Gatzlaff – USU, 9.725; T7. Emma Loyim – BSU, 9.725; T7. Alyssa Vulaj – BSU, 9.725; 10. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.700; 11. Jenna Eagles – USU, 9.625; 12. Chelsea Southam – USU, 9.175.
 
Bars: 1. Emily Lopez – BSU, 9.950; 2. Courtney Blackson – BSU, 9.900; 3. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.875; 4. Elaina McGovern – BSU, 9.800; T5. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.775; T5. Erin Morden – BSU, 9.775; 7. Avery Bibbey – USU, 9.675; 8. Talia Little – BSU, 9.500; 9. Dani Kirstine – USU, 9.250; 10. Kylee Hamby – BSU, 9.025; 11. Lexi Aragon – USU, 8.800; 12. Jessica Gutierrez – USU, 8.475.
 
Beam: T1. Emma Loyim – BSU, 9.850; T1. Adrianna Popp– BSU, 9.850; T3. Jenna Eagles – USU, 9.825; T3. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.825; T3. Emily Lopez – BSU, 9.825; 6. Dani Kirstine – USU, 9.800; 7. Alivia Ostendorf – USU, 9.750; T8. Carley Bayles – USU, 9.725; T8. Erin Elkabchi – BSU, 9.725; 10. Talia Little – BSU, 9.700; 11. Alyssa Vulaj – BSU, 9.500; 12. Grace Rojas – USU, 9.000.
 
Floor: 1. Courtney Blackson – BSU, 9.900; 2. Sydney Leitch – BSU, 9.850; T3. Ariel Toomey – USU, 9.825; T3. Alivia Ostendorf – USU, 9.825; T3. Elaina McGovern – BSU, 9.825; T6. Brantley Lucas – BSU, 9.800; T6. Emma Loyim – BSU, 9.800; T8. Brianna Brooks – USU, 9.775; T8. Payton Gatzlaff – USU, 9.775; T8. Alyssa Vulaj – BSU, 9.650; 11. Avery Bibbey– USU, 9.200.
 
All-Around: 1. Brianna Brooks – USU, 39.075.
 
-USU-