University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
New Hampshire
Gymnastics Sets Season High in Conference Opener
1/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Jan. 29, 2006
DURHAM, N.H. - Pitt gymnastics traveled to New Hampshire to open their 2006 East Atlantic Gymnastic League (EAGL) conference season against the Wildcats. The Panthers fell 191.160 to New Hampshire 193.800, but it was still their best team score of the season.
"We hung with New Hampshire most of the way," said Head Coach Debbie Yohman. "There were still some mistakes that we wanted to get rid of, but overall we did a good job. Vault is turning into one of our strong events. On bars, we started out a little rough but came back in the end. We're still working on aggressive and solid beam, and we were absolutely great with our floor performances."
The Panthers continued to turn in strong performances on the vault with a total of 47.925, making their season average 48.167. Leading the team was junior Andrea Arlotta (Cincinnatti, Ohio/Northwest) with a 9.675 for fifth place. Freshman Victoria McGuigan-Carl (Reading, Pa./Exter) finished sixth with a 9.650, and freshman Anya Chayka (Germantown, Md./Richard Montgomery), in her first vault competition, scored a 9.6 for seventh place.
Despite getting off to a shaky start, the Panthers were able to come back on the uneven bars scoring a 47.725. Arlotta led the team on this event as well, scoring a 9.8 for third place, and sophomore Samantha DeBone (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) took fourth with a career-high 9.775.
Pitt also performed well on the balance beam with Chayka leading the team in third place with a career-high 9.750. Following Chayka was sophomore Nicole Drane (Mt. Laurel, N.J./Lenape) in fourth with a 9.6, and Arlotta took fifth with a 9.475.
On the floor exercise, the Panthers turned in a season-high 48.600, boosting their average to a 47.742. For the second time in the competition, a freshman led the team as McGuigan-Carl tied for fourth with a career-high 9.775 with teammate Jessica Garber (Manheim, Pa./Lancaster Country Day School). Arlotta finished in sixth with a 9.750, and Chayka stepped in for a teammate to score a 9.650, tying with Drane for eighth.
Two Panthers competed in the all-around - Arlotta and sophomore Kaitlin Harrison (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial). Arlotta took first with a season-high 38.7, and Harrison finished in third with a 36.8.
The Panthers will continue EAGL competition as they return home for next weekend's meet against Rutgers. Pitt will take on the Scarlet Knights on Saturday, February 4, at 7 p.m. in the Fitzgerald Field House.
