LOGAN, Utah - No. 12 BYU came out on top in a tri-meet against No. 14 Utah State and No. 23 Towson University at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Friday night.
The Cougars scored a 196.575 to earn victories over the Aggies (196.225) and the Tigers (195.600).
“Utah State is a great team and we are looking forward to an unbelievable MRGC championship after these amazing performances,” said head coach Guard Young. “Utah State really pushed us and the girls had a great meet with great performances.”
BYU started the night on the uneven bars. Senior standout Sadie Miner-Van Tassell was up first on the apparatus with a score of 9.825. Fellow senior, Haley Pitou, rounded out the first rotation with a 9.850 to post the highest score on bars for the Cougars. BYU ended the first rotation tied in second place with Towson with team scores of 48.975 behind Utah State’s 49.025.
The Cougars started strong on the balance beam in the second rotation with a 9.875 from Lauren Ono. After a few slip-ups, the backend of the beam lineup pulled through with three solid performances. Sophia McClelland and Miner-Van Tassell each notched individual scores of 9.850 while Elease Rollins closed out the rotation with a 9.950. After great performances on the beam, BYU moved into first place with a total score of 98.150, followed by the Aggies (97.975) and the Tigers (97.875).
BYU brought the energy and power with its floor routines in the third rotation. Sydney Benson started with a solid score of 9.850, followed by Adeline Rieder with a 9.875. This marked the fifth week in a row that Rieder has matched her career-high score on floor. Miner-Van Tassell continued to shine with a 9.900 for her floor routine. Senior floor specialist Brittney Vitkauskas ended the third rotation with a 9.925. With solid performances from all six gymnasts on floor, BYU stayed ahead in the competition with a total score of 147.500. Utah State followed with a score of 146.875 and Towson came in close behind with a 146.875.
The Cougars soared on vault in the final rotation of the night. Mason and Pitou started the rotation with individual scores of 9.800. Miner-Van Tassell and Lexi Griffith each posted solid scores of 9.850 to finish out the fourth rotation for BYU and secure the victory.
Miner-Van Tassell came in just behind USU’s Rebecca Wells (39.475) for the all-around with a cumulative score of 39.425. Rollins took home the beam title with a score of 9.950, and Vitkauskas took the top spot on the podium for her floor routine with a 9.925.
“Sadie Miner-Van Tassell has been the workhorse of this team and super proud of how she has been performing in her senior year,” said Young. “Elease Rollins has been spectacular on beam and she just keeps delivering week in and week out. Super proud of these girls and all their hard work these past two weeks.”