PHOTO ESSAY: UCLA Remains Undefeated After Testing Depth at Washington

February 18, 2021 Christina Marmet Event Coverage, Features, NCAA WAG, Photo Essay

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Following a rare Wednesday matchup against BYU at home, UCLA traveled to Seattle for a Sunday meet against Washington. The Bruins started on uneven bars, where sophomore Kalyany Steele made her highly anticipated season debut for a 9.725. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

After quickly upgrading her bar routine to crack the lineup, freshman Sara Ulias has become a fan-favorite with her high Jaeger and stunning handstands. Despite her fall here, her potential is undeniable, and she should become a staple in this lineup in the future. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Washington, also in its second meet of the week, started on vault. Sophomore Isa Weiss scored a 9.650 for her Tsuk tuck Arabian, a vault that starts from a 9.800. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Junior Margzetta Frazier, the only all arounder for UCLA at this competition, capped off the first rotation with a stuck double layout dismount and a 9.925. The Bruins took the lead after one with 49.125 to Washington’s 48.600. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

In the second rotation, only five Bruins competed in the vault lineup. Senior Nia Dennis did her usual flared Yurchenko full for a 9.800. She couldn’t quite contain her excitement and ran off fast toward her teammates and coaches after saluting. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Senior Geneva Thompson was the highlight on bars for the Huskies, especially after sticking her full twisting double back dismount. She received a 9.875, but the team was forced to ultimately count a fall. Washington continued to trail UCLA after two—98.075 to 96.475. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

After scoring in the sub-47s for three meets in a row, the Huskies tried a different lineup order on beam. Junior Talia Brovedani was solid in the lead-off position and received a 9.850. Her score would ultimately be the highest of the rotation. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Over on floor, UCLA tested its depth and introduced some new faces to the lineup. Junior Sara Taubman made her career debut on the event, reusing the choreography of alum Alyssa Pritchett. She couldn’t help but jump around from excitement once she finished, and scored a 9.650. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Despite Brovedani’s strong start, the Huskies continued to struggle on beam. Cathy Eksteen fell in the second spot (9.125), and Geneva Thompson missed her leap connection (9.550). In the fourth spot, freshman Lauren Thomas (pictured) also did not receive credit for both her acro and leap series. She scored a 8.850. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Sara Ulias also made her first appearance on floor for the Bruins for a 9.725. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Over on beam, freshman Katie McNamara handled the pressure in the fifth spot and her 9.800 got the Huskies back on track. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Junior Samantha Sakti appeared on floor for the first time in her career as a Bruin and received a 9.625. The William & Mary transfer competed in the event at every meet during her freshman year for the Tribe, and has a career-high of 9.925. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Freshman Skylar Killough-Wilhelm was back in the beam lineup and in the anchor position after missing last time out. She scored a 9.725, but the Huskies had to again count two low scores in this rotation. They still finished with a 48.050, their highest beam score so far this season. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Margzetta Frazier, whose Janet Jackson choreography went viral last week, got everybody’s attention on floor. She wrapped up the rotation for UCLA with a 9.900. The Bruins finished with a 48.900 on the event to keep their lead over the Huskies—146.725 to 144.525. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

In the fourth rotation, Washington moved to floor, where it once again only had five athletes up. After Allie Smith scored a 9.775 in the lead-off position, Katie McNamara (pictured) received a 9.600 for her routine. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

The Bruins concluded the meet on beam. After a 9.850 from Kendal Poston and a 9.825 from Margzetta Frazier, Frida Esparza (pictured) scored a 9.750. The freshman has been a steadfast contributor to the bars and beam lineups for the Bruins. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Geneva Thompson tied her career high on floor with a 9.900. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Carrying the momentum, junior Amara Cunningham closed off the competition for the Huskies with a 9.925, also tying her career-high on the event. Washington ended with a 193.500. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Freshman Chae Campbell, who only competed on vault and beam here, came in clutch in the fifth spot after a fall from Nia Dennis. She scored a 9.900 to earn the event title. While the Bruins ultimately had to count a fall on beam, they won the meet with a final score of 195.625. (Photo/Emily Howell-Forbes)

Photos by Emily Howell-Forbes; captions by Christina Marmet

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