Three-way meet. Following a three-meet homestand, the Seattle Pacific University gymnastics team travels to its first road meet of the season this week. The Falcons hope to atone for a home loss to San Jose State last week when they visit the Spartans (4-1) Friday night (Feb. 8). The three-way competition includes Boise State (2-4). Six of the next seven meets are on the road, including Feb. 15 when SPU returns to Northern California to face Sacramento State.

Somewhere in between. In the first two meets of the year, the Falcons demonstrated the volatility of gymnastics as they posted scores with more than three points of disparity between them. In the first meet, the team broke opening night records with a score of 190.375, but the following week they dipped to a disappointing 187.300. Last week's meet against San Jose State was set to prove which score was a better indication of their abilities, and the outcome was somewhere in the middle. Seattle Pacific finished with 189.025, losing to the Spartans who racked-up 190.675 points.

Only the name has changed. By virtue of marriage, her name has a new twist this season but Alison Siegel-McAfee (Sr., Oakland, Ca./Redwood Christian) is the same sterling performer for the Falcons, no matter what the event. A three-time team MVP, four-time All-America and current school record-holder in three categories, Bay Area native Siegel-McAfee will competing in her own backyard this weekend. She is currently ranked among the USA Gymnastics top five leaders in three areas for season average: vault (No. 2, 9.708), uneven bars (No. 5, 9.633) and all-around (No. 5, 38.425). Siegel-McAfee is coming off season-highs on beam, vault and all-around. The latter, a total of 38.800, ranks No. 5 in school history.

Homecoming recap. Despite season-high team scores on both vault and floor exercise, the Falcons were unable to hold an early lead in their homecoming meet with San Jose State. Essentially, the second event barred the door as SPU sank to a season-low 45.800 on the bars. The meet started well, with three personal-bests on vault, including Annastasia Ahr (So., San Antonio, Tx./Blessed Hope Academy) with a 9.375, Corrie McDaniel (Fr., Lawrence, Ks./Lawrence) with a 9.425, and Elisabeth Kingsley (Fr., Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison) with a 9.550. Siegel-McAfee was out in front for the team, taking second place overall with a 9.750. The combined effort gave the team a score of 47.600­nearly a full point higher than the previous meet. After a debacle on bars, the Falcons recovered some of their momentum on beam with three solid routines. Siegel-McAfee scored a 9.800 to give the Falcons their only first-place finish. Floor was the teams' strongest event, with a total of 48.400. McDaniel finished third with a personal-best of 9.825 and it matched the sixth-best SPU score all-time. It was the first time this season that the freshman hit each of her tumbling passes and dance elements, and Coach Laurel Tindall liked what she saw. Kingsley set a personal record with a score of 9.625, and Ahr also had a career-high, scoring 9.800 and delighting the crowd with her animated performance.

Down they go. In a six-competitor setting, teams typically design their lineup in such a manner that the lowest scoring competitor goes first, and each gymnast is subsequently stronger up until the last, best, highest-scoring gymnast performs sixth. If each routine is performed well, the scores build on themselves. Unfortunately, the game plan backfired last week. Though the first competitor, Kristen Strid (Jr., Kingsburg, Ca./Kingsburg), hit her routine for a solid 9.550, the next two scores fell drastically. Ahr struggled with her performance, scoring an 8.825, and Kari Kelly (Fr., Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) fell three times and scored only 6.850. Siegel-McAfee (9.650) and McDaniel (9.550) stemmed the tide but the final competitor for the Falcons, Jennifer Christman (So., Fairfield, Ca./Benicia), with scores of 9.650 and better in the previous two meets, scored only an 8.225 after falling near the end of her routine.

Gym shorts. Strid, with a fourth-place score of 9.700 on beam, is now No. 4 nationally with an average of 9.683...McDaniel fought to stay up on beam and finished with a 9.550. She ranks No. 3 nationally on bars with an average of 9.675...Rachael Anderson (Jr., Yakima, Wa./West Valley) saw action on two events, beam (8.825) and floor (9.050). She was the most consistent performer on the floor last season...On floor, all five of the team's counting scores were above the 9.55 mark. Siegel-McAfee struggled with her tumbling, and finished in seventh place (9.600)...Nationally, Seattle Pacific moved up one spot to No. 4 in season average (188.883). It ranks No. 3 on beam (47.017), No. 4 on vault (47.233) and floor (47.617) and No. 6 on bars (47.017)...Courtney Stump (Sr., Poulsbo, Wa./Charles Wright) hit her highest floor score of the year, 9.550...SPU is still missing some key players. Julie Evin (Fr., Vancouver, Wa./Mountain View) is recovering from an autumn back injury. Missy McLaughlin (Sr., Federal Way, Wa./Decatur) was also out of the competition due to an injury. McLaughlin, an All-America last year on vault, should rejoin the lineup later this month. Courtney Amonsen (Jr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) is also expected back soon from an ankle sprain.

Opponent & series notes. Dani Albright led the way for San Jose State last week, winning the vault (9.850), floor (9.900) and all-around competition (39.250). She also placed second on the other two events. The Spartans have defeated SPU in eight straight meetings, dating back to the 1998 season and overall lead the series 13-8...Boise State is coming off a narrow victory over longtime rival Utah State with a score of 192.775. The Broncos, who average 190.025, were led by freshman Carla Chambers, who had an all-around total of 39.100. BSU lead the series against the Falcons, 34-13. SPU has not beaten the Broncos since 1992.

SPU Coaches. Coach Laurel Tindall is a veteran of the sport and is synonymous with the university. Originally, she competed for the Falcons, then replaced her mentor, George Lewis, immediately following graduation. Subsequently, she has served in her position for 26 years. Under her guidance, SPU has won three national championships and, individually, her gymnasts have taken 15 titles. Three times Tindall has been honored as national coach of the year. Kathy Siwek returns for her second season as an assistant coach. Siwek was a two-time All-American and a member of the 1997 national championship team. Joining the staff this season is John Carney.