Southern Utah University campus briefs

GYMNASTICS: Southern Utah's women's gymnastics team remained undefeated on the season as the Thunderbirds posted a 193.575 victory over Sacramento State (192.775) and Cal State Fullerton (188.900) on Friday night at Cedar City.

SUU seniors Melissa Johnson and Elise Wheeler also continued their consecutive winning streaks as the duo came away with titles on vault and in the all-around, respectively.

"I thought Melissa Johnson had the meet of her life," head coach Scott Bauman said after meet. "Our seniors and juniors did a great job of leading tonight, but I was disappointed in our freshmen. Our freshmen looked like freshmen tonight."

Southern Utah was able to ride a strong performance on vault to victory as SUU scored almost a point higher than Fullerton (47.975) and almost two points higher than Sacramento State (47.125) on the event with a 48.875. Johnson led the way for the T-Birds with a season-high 9.900, a mark that also tied her career high. The score secured her third consecutive vault title of the season in as many meets, but she wasn't the only T-Bird among the top finishers as SUU swept the top four places in the event. Johnson was followed by fellow seniors Lindsey Schultz (9.850) and Wheeler (9.775), with true freshman Caitlin Kennedy finishing in fourth with a 9.725.

The Thunderbirds got out to a rocky start during the night as the team began on the beam and had to count a fall with Jenna Vogt and Alyssa Click suffering mishaps on the event. However, Johnson came close to making up the difference, scoring a season-high 9.825, matching another career high for the St. Charles, Ill. native. In all, SUU scored a 48.275 on the event and despite the falls led the meet as CSUS began with a 47.125 on vault and CSF began with a 47.200 on bars.

The rockiest road for the 'Birds came during the second rotation as SUU had to count another fall on floor as Click and Lauren Jeffrey scored a 9.050 and 8.825, respectively. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Wheeler and Bailey Baker finished first and second, respectively, with a 9.800 and 9.775. The finish left Southern Utah with a 47.950 on floor, but the team was still able to hold the lead after a 47.975 performance by CSF on vault and a 48.650 finish for CSUS on bars.

Following the strong showing on vault, SUU moved to the uneven bars, where the team had to, once again, count a fall as Baker and Kennedy encountered falls. Vogt came back from a fall on beam to tie Wheeler for the overall title on the apparatus with matching 9.850's. Click also saved her best for last, scoring a 9.800 to finish third.

Wheeler's consistent showing all night led to her third consecutive all-around title with a season-high 39.200. Sac State's Eryn Stubblefield (38.900) and Fullerton's Alaina Baker (38.550) and Cami Casimere (36.650) rounded out the all-around competitors.

Southern Utah will be back in action tonight as the Thunderbirds make a quick trip to San Jose State for a dual meet with the Spartans. That meet is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. MST.