Pittsburgh Gymnastics Drops Season Opener
1/24/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Pittsburgh Gymnastics Drops Season Opener
1/24/1999
PITTSBURGH, PA - The University of Pittsburgh Gymnastics team lost its season opener, 189.275-188.825, to East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) opponent New Hampshire in the Panthers' first home meet of the season, Sunday Jan. 24 at Fitzgerald Field House. The Wildcats move to 2-2 on the season, while Pittsburgh is 0-1.
Despite the loss, the Panthers won first place in four events, including the all-around. Junior Danielle "Freddie" Alba (Philadelphia, Pa./Bishop McDevitt) lead the campaign with top scores on the balance beam and in the all-around. Alba scored a 9.80 on beam and tied for seventh on Pittsburgh's All-Time Top 10 list for the second time in her career. Alba, who's final all-around score was 38.375, also placed second on the uneven bars with a 9.825 and tied for third on vault (9.6).
Junior Samantha Salyers (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West), the school record holder on the uneven bars, earned the top score on that event with a 9.90, tying her second-best score on the all-time list. Junior Lisa Fronhofer (Salam, N.Y./Salem) won the vault with a 9.725 and placed second on beam (9.5), while junior co-captain Vanessa Rutherford (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) tied for third on the balance beam with a (9.375).
New Hampshire dominated the floor exercise, with Cara Lepper (9.7), Wendy Wheaton (9.625) and Jill Cavalieri (9.5) claiming the top three scores and clinching the victory for the Wildcats.
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 30 when they travel to EAGL rival West Virginia to compete in a quad-meet that includes Temple and Towson.