On a roll. Following a season-high score and its fourth win in as many meets, the Seattle Pacific University women's gymnastics team is on a roll going into a string of three consecutive road meets. The Falcons (4-6) visit 9th-ranked Oregon State (10-4) and No. 13 Denver (9-6) in a tri-meet Friday night (Mar. 7). SPU, rated No. 6 among USA Gymnastics (Division II) teams, goes to Sacramento State Mar. 14 and Washington Mar. 21 before returning home.

An energy boost. If it were not for that last, elusive half-a-point, the Falcons would have had themselves a meet worthy of the record books last week against Sacramento State. Still, the score of 192.075 was a season-high and ought to provide a huge confidence boost going into this weekend's contest in storied Gill Coliseum. With the score close going into the last rotation, Seattle Pacific danced a season-high 48.250 on floor exercise-nearly three-quarters of a point better than its previous best-and ended up defeating the Hornets (190.125) by nearly two points. It was the first victory over a Division I program this season. The three straight dual meet wins matches the longest streak in 20 years.

Numbers coming back. As preseason injuries heal and athletes are back at practice, Coach Laurel Tindall has finally been able to field six solid gymnasts per event. In fact, there was sufficient surplus to prompt several exhibitions last week. Competition has dramatically increased for lineup spots and, ever so slowly, the Falcons are regaining the precious depth they had when practices began in the fall. Of the 14 gymnasts, only Anna Leiferman (Fr., Thornton, Co./Horizon) and Julie Evin (Fr., Vancouver, Wa./Mountain View), are likely to miss the remainder of the season.

Did hit the charts. Headlining the win over Sac State were uneven bar queen Melissa Stanton (Jr., Rapid City, SD/Central-Hamline) and returning All-America all-arounder Corrie McDaniel (So., Lawrence, Ks.). Stanton swung a season-high 9.850 on the bars during the second rotation to earn first place in that event. That score ties with nine others for 10th on the school's all-time list and it marks the second win in a row for Stanton. McDaniel won her second floor exercise in as many weeks as well. She danced a 9.825-just a quarter of a point away from the 10th best all-time score. McDaniel finished third to the Hornets' Nirvana Zaher and Jessica Hoffman in the all-around with a 37.725. Stanton also negotiated the balance beam to a second-place 9.650 tie with teammate Annastasia Ahr (Jr., San Antonio, Tx./Blessed Hope Academy).

Near sweep on bars. If floor exercise was a strength for the Falcons, you wouldn't know it by looking at the final awards ceremony. Although McDaniel finished first, the Hornets' Hoffman and Zaher tied for second with a 9.800 to fill out the podium. Bars was another story. Seattle Pacific swung a 48.200 team score and although it was just short of a season-high (48.275), Stanton, Ahr and Jennifer Christman (Jr., Fairfield, Ca./Benicia) nearly pulled off a sweep. Sacramento's Kimiye Narasaki spoiled the Falcons' plan with a 9.700 tie for second. Ahr's 9.650 was a career-high. She also hit a season-high 9.750 on floor. Overall, the Falcons took five of the top seven places on the bars.

Lock it in the vault. If the bars were SPU's strongest event, uncharacteristically low was the vault. The Falcons usually rake in the points on during the first rotation but last week Sacramento claimed four of the top five marks from the judges. Kari Kelly (Fr., Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) launched Seattle Pacific's best finish with a fourth-place 9.600.

Gym shorts. Kristen Strid (Sr., Kingsburg, Ca./Kingsburg Joint Union) swung a 9.600 good for fifth place on bars and negotiated the balance beam to the tune of a 9.625 fourth-place mark...Jaynie Reynolds (Fr., White Rock, BC/South Delta) vaulted a 9.550 and performed a floor exhibition...Elisabeth Kingsley (So., Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison) scored a 9.425 on floor...Rachael Anderson (Sr., Yakima, Wa./West Valley) returned from a two-week for a knee injury to vault a 9.575 and score a 9.700 on floor exercise...Cindy Reed (Fr., Antioch, Ca./Deer Valley) competed on three events and scored a 9.450 on vault, a 9.525 on beam and a 9.100 on floor exercise...Courtney Amonsen (Sr., Redmond, Wa./Inglemoor) flipped a 9.350 on beam...Seattle Pacific is ranked third on beam and fourth on vault and bars on the USAG charts...Individually, Strid is fourth on beam and 10th on bars and teammate Stanton ranks fifth on bars...McDaniel is sixth in the all-around and ninth on vault...In the MPSF rankings, Stanton is No. 3 on bars, Strid is No. 6 on bars and beam, and McDaniel is No. 6 in all-around.

Tickets, please. General admission tickets for all SPU home gymnastics meets are priced $5 with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Teams or groups can qualify for discount rates by call (206) 281-2085 in advance.

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 27 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 third season as an assistant coach. Siwek was a two-time All-America and a member of the 1997 national championship team. Alison Siegel-McAfee joins the staff after having completed her career in 2002 as a four-time All-America and school record-holder in vault, beam and all-around.

Missing links. For the latest and best information on Seattle Pacific University athletics, stay where you're at -- on The Falcons Online. For updated standings and statistics, see the Great Northwest Athletic Conference web site.