CEDAR CITY, Utah – No. 13 Stanford embraced the challenge of a new environment Friday night, topping Southern Utah inside America First Event Center 196.775 to 196.125 in the first dual-meet matchup for the two teams since 2017.
Stanford’s second-best road score of the season was led by senior Brenna Neault bringing home her second all-around title of the year with a total of 39.425, highlighted by her first bars event win of the year. Junior Anna Roberts brought home the vault title with a score of 9.900 and a share of the floor title, while freshman Alana Walker marked her first collegiate event win with a career-best matching performance on the floor.
The Cardinal started the night with a 49.225 team score on bars highlighted by Neault’s title-winning 9.900 in the third spot of the lineup. Senior Anapaula Gutierrez led off with a 9.875, while freshmen Kendra Chang and Ui Soma each added scores of 9.825 in the second and anchor positions. Junior Ava Sorrento rounded out scoring routines with a 9.800.
After one rotation, the Cardinal led the Flippin’ Birds 49.225-49.175.
Stanford then went to vault, posting its second-best vault rotation of the season led by Roberts’ anchor 9.900. The Cardinal’s 49.150 team total was aided by scores of 9.825 from Gutierrez, Walker and Neault while Chang led off with a 9.775.
Stanford grew its lead over Southern Utah to .300, 98.375-98.075 through two rotations.
Floor saw Walker and Roberts guide the Cardinal to a team total of 49.275 with their floor title routines of 9.875. Junior Claire Dean and Neault added scores of 9.850 while sophomore Sienna Robinson posted a 9.825.
With one rotation left in the meet, the Cardinal led the home team 147.650-146.825.
Stanford finished the night on beam, led by scores of 9.850 from Neault, junior Ashley Carter, and Robinson. Dean led off the rotation with a 9.825 while sophomore Temple Landry added a 9.750 in the second position of the lineup.
The Cardinal finishes its three-week road swing back on ACC turf Sunday, Feb. 23, meeting Clemson in the Palmetto State. The meeting of the Tigers and Cardinal is scheduled for a 1 pm PT start and will be televised on the ACC Network.