Just across town. With two meets down, the butterflies are working their way out and the Seattle Pacific University gymnastics team is growing in confidence as it tangles with three Division I programs all ranking among the nation’s top 25 in scoring. The Falcons visit Bank of America Arena Friday night (Jan. 28) for a quadrangular with No. 18-ranked Washington (4-1), Arizona (6-3) and Minnesota (1-2). Before returning home, the Falcons will compete in a three-way meet with host Air Force and defending USA Gymnastics champion Centenary Feb. 5.

Highs and lows at home. Despite three first-place individual finishes, the Falcons fell just short of notching a victory in their home opener against Mountain Pacific Sports Federation defending champion San Jose State. Coach Laurel Tindall saw her squad hold its own against the Spartans, posting a narrow 190.850 to 190.500 loss. The Falcons held a lead of 0.25 heading into the final rotation, but San Jose mustered a 48.25, their best event performance of the night, to end the competition on beam. Meanwhile, SPU churned out a 47.875 on floor for its top event performance.

Top-ranked. Tindall is standing proud this week with her team ranked No. 1 in the USA Gymnastics statistical rankings after the first two meets. The prediction of a team whose power lies outside the uneven bars has had nominal impact on the reality of SPU’s performance. The scores have come out strong, putting SPU at the top of the bar rankings as well. With four of six Falcons swinging scores of 9.550 or higher last week, SPU capped a 47.525 team score during the secoDo the Huss-tle. One of the largest home opener crowds was captivated by, among others, Debra Huss (So., Orangevale, Ca./Bella Vista), who was in fine form. Huss took second place in the all-around with a four-event total of 38.625. San Jose State’s Greta Leach won with 38.725. Tumbling her second 9.850 in as many weeks, she won floor exercise and tied with the Spartans’ Leah Bigelow for a second place finish on beam. Huss’ consistently high scores on floor exercise earned her the No. 1 spot in the USAG statistical rankings and second and third in the all-around and balance beam, respectively. Huss, along with Sarah Sullivan (So., Salem, Or./Sprague) and the Spartans’ Jennifer Greene, finished in a three-way tie on bars (9.650), behind Seattle Pacific’s Jaynie Reynolds (Jr., White Rock, B.C./Marriot) (9.725). Reynolds is currently ranked No. 2 nationally on bars. nd rotation against San Jose.

Steady contributions. There’s no doubt that the Tindall’s four returning All-Americans will receive name recognition throughout the season. In addition to Sullivan’s second place bar finish, she also took third in the all-around (37.925) and tied with teammate Reynolds and San Jose’s Michelle Minotti for third on vault (9.600). Kari Kelly (Sr., Yakima, Wa./Eisenhower) tied with top all-arounder Leach, to win vault (9.675) and swung a 9.550 for a fourth-place finish on bars. Kelly’s vault scores put her at No. 3 in the rankings. As for fresh faces, Ashley Domres (Fr., Phoenix, Az./Scottsdale Christian) showed great improvement from her first collegiate gymnastics meet a week ago, posting a 9.700 on beam that put her at No. 4 for the event.

Gym shorts. The Falcons are seeking their first win in their last four regular season road meets. They edged UC Davis at Fullerton last season...The season-high score for last season and No. 2 all-time (193.500) was set in Seattle Pacific’s last visit to Washington...Trailing SPU in the USAG scoring average table are Rutgers, Alaska Anchorage, Air Force and Centenary...Elisabeth Kingsley (Sr., Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison) danced a 9.625 on floor exercise...Kristin Bryant (So., Anchorage, Ak./West Anchorage) launched a 9.500 vault and earned an improved 9.200 on beam...Sullivan also negotiated a 9.575 on beam...Corrie McDaniel (Sr., Lawrence, Ks./Lawrence) posted a 9.125 on floor exercise and on beam in her first home meet back from a dislocated elbow suffered late last year...Domres swung a 8.950 on bars to go with her beam total...Christie Chinaka (Fr., Honolulu, Hi.) vaulted a 9.075 and swung a 8.625 on bars...The vault and uneven bar lineups, along with health, will determine the traveling squad for the next two meets...Seattle Pacific has seven athletes unavailable for consideration. Among those missing are prized recruits Maddi Bernhardt (Fr., Littleton, Co./Highlands Ranch) and Amy Potrawski (Fr., St. Charles, Il./St. Charles East), due to shoulder and foot injuries, respectively.

Tickets, Please. General admission tickets for all SPU women’s gymnastics meets are priced $5, with students, youth and senior citizens $3 with proper identification. Teams can qualify for special discount rates by calling (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 30 years. Under her guidance, SPU has won three national championships and, individually, her gymnasts have taken 15 titles. Four times Tindall has been honored as national coach of the year. Kathy Siwek returns for her fifth season as an assistant coach. Siwek was a two-time All-America and a member of the 1997 national championship team. Kristen Strid is back for her second year on the staff after having completing her career in 2003 as a three-time All-America and national champion on bars.

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 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation web site at www.mpsports.org, or the Collegiate Gymnastics Information Center at www.troester.com/gym. .