Florida opened their season with a 196.925 today against Ball State who scored a 193.7. Bridget Sloan earned the first 10.0 of 2015 with a stuck Yurchenko full on vault but injured herself on floor in the third rotation and was unable to finish the meet. Bridgette Caquatto and Sloan tied for the bars high with a 9.95, Claire Boyce had the beam high of a 9.925, and Caquatto scored the high on floor of a 9.925. Kytra Hunter took the all-around with a 39.475.

 

The Gators were off to a great start on bars and they totaled a 49.45, dropping their lowest score of a 9.825. Sloan anchored with a near perfect routine only hopping on her dismount to score a 9.95. Caquatto who was up fourth also scored a 9.95 with her gorgeous floating routine. 

 

In the second rotation, Florida rocked vault with a couple landings stuck cold and the rest with controlled hops. Sloan was up fourth and performed a huge Yurchenko full that flared open before the nailed landing. Hunter followed with an incredible stuck Yurchenko 1 1/2 that only earned a 9.95. 

 

Florida moved to floor where they seemed to be a bit off and not as sharp as usual. Sloan had a solid routine but on her final pass of a double pike, she landed a tiny bit short and immediately hopped to her left foot as she held her right foot off the ground. She wasn’t able to finish her choreography and the trainer ran over to help her off the floor. Hunter got the Gators back on track with her always entertaining and impressive floor routine earned a 9.875. Caquatto anchored and scored a 9.925. 

 

The Gators had the most trouble on their final event where they suffered two falls. Rachel Spicer was up second and fell on her series followed by Ericha Fassbender who also fell on her series. Boyce performed beautifully under pressure after the two falls and nailed her routine for a 9.925. Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto replaced Sloan in the fifth spot and Dancose-Giambattisto also displayed confidence and maturity as she hit for a 9.9. Hunter finished the meet with a 9.825. 

 

Ball State had a solid performance to earn a 193.7. Their best rotation came on vault where they scored a 48.7. They struggled on bars with form and handstands and only earned a 47.825. They recovered well on their last two events to score a 48.625 on beam and 48.55 on floor.