It’s hard to think of a program that has climbed from both literal and figurative rock bottom to national relevance as decisively as Michigan State has in recent years. That rise has been so pronounced that any hint of vulnerability now feels out of character—and yet, the Spartans’ first two meets of the season have featured uncharacteristic mistakes and form issues that we’re simply not used to seeing from this team. So far, those lapses have been isolated moments rather than systemic problems, but tonight’s home opener presents the perfect chance for Michigan State to reset, reassert itself, and show that early-season shakiness is not a sign of things to come.
UCLA, by contrast, has found a steadier rhythm early, improving its team score in each meet and entering the weekend as one of the few squads already competing for a fourth time this season. Jordan Chiles headlined last week’s home meet against Nebraska with the season’s second perfect 10.000 on vault, continuing a run of standout performances since returning from Dancing With the Stars. The Bruins edged Michigan State at Pauley Pavilion a year ago and will aim to repeat that result—this time by a wider margin—on the road tonight.
Serving as another marquee meet on cable, today’s matchup will be streamed on FOX at 1 p.m. ET, with scores on Virtius.
Rotation 1: Michigan State VT, UCLA UB
Tucker (MSU) VT: Some bent knees in the air, great height but steps to the side on landing. 9.750
Rosen (UCLA) UB: Legs together on Maloney, come apart a little on Pak, last handstand is on, DLO pikes a little in the second half and has to lunge forward, knee goes down to the mat. 9.525…with her knee down, I would have thought that would have been a fall and a little lower.
Marquart (MSU) VT: Steps to the right on Y1.5 after a stick in warmups. 9.775
Alipio (UCLA) UB: Her debut on this event, Maloney to bail some leg separation, chest down on toe-on half but sticks dismount to end. Impressive to do her first ever career routine with no mistakes after a fall! 9.875
Duplissis (MSU) VT: Holds stick on Y1.5, chest slightly down but overall great! 9.900
Barros (UCLA) UB: Pak slight leg separation, VL they’re glued together, great last handstand and stuck DLO to end. Bruins are responding thus far. 9.900
Smith (MSU) VT: Steps forward on Y1.5, looked great in the air. 9.825
Sumanasekera (UCLA) UB: Maloney to Pak no form breaks, stuck FTDLO which was super high in the sky. 9.875
Zsarmani (MSU) VT: Y1.5 looked great in the air but bounces forward, first Y1.5 of the year. 9.875
Sullivan (UCLA) UB: Big Tkatchev pointed toes, leg separation on Pak, DLO little hop in place and chest down. 9.750
Kellerman (MSU) VT: Small hop back on piked half vault, still her best of the season thus far. 9.925
Chiles (UCLA) UB: Piked Tkatchev to Pak great form, DLO chest up and holds stick. Based on this judging, I think we know what to expect…
Our first sign of Retoshia Halsell as a Spartan in the vault exhibition spot, yfull big in the air and a small hop back. Jordis Eichman exhibitions bars for UCLA, Pak slight leg separation, VL is better but overall labored look to the routine, hop in place on dismount.
AFTER ONE: UCLA 49.350, MSU 49.300
The loose judging on bars makes the 0.5 gap feel small at this point, but each team had a pretty similar rotation as far as mistakes compared to bright spots. UCLA responded well after the opening fall, turning in a bars rotation punctuated by sticks, even with a senior competing her first ever routine on the event. Even with just one stick, MSU had the best vault rotation it could have hoped for at home, especially with Sage Kellerman doing as closest to her normal as she has all season.
Rotation 2: UCLA VT, Michigan State UB
Sumanasekera (UCLA) VT: Pikes down the full just a little, bounce in place and a few arm circles but holds landing in place after that. Also, her beat looks amazing as always! 9.775 feels a bit low.
Howard (MSU) UB: Big Church to open, last handstand gets it, sticks double tuck chest slightly down. 9.800
Eichman (UCLA) VT: Similar to Tiana’s with the piking down on her yfull, but hop was a little more backwards than in place. 9.750
Tucker (MSU) UB: A little off on her Maloney, looks like caught it close, has to take a few extra swings, front pike half sticks. 9.000
Rosen (UCLA) VT: Hops to the side on y1.5, slight knees in the air. 9.875
Smith (MSU) UB: Saves first handstand after arching back a bit, Maloney to Pak some flexed feet, chest up on DLO but arm swing and small hop back. 9.725
Jenkins (UCLA) VT: Some leg separation on first flip, forward step to the right. 9.825
Cosman (MSU) UB: First handstand a little short, Maloney to Pak legs together, double back high in the air and a step forward. 9.725
Sullivan (UCLA) VT: Hop forward on y1.5, similar to Rosen’s. 9.850
Zsarmani (MSU) UB: Maloney to Pak great form, DLO nearly stuck but steps backward to save. 9.850
Chiles (UCLA) VT: Sticks the double full again, some leg form in the air but similar to her 10.000 last week for sure… this could be a crazy day. 9.975
Kellerman (MSU) UB: Jaeger her usual, crisp handstands until last one a bit short, first stick of the rotation on DLO.
Madisyn Anyimi exhibitions vault rather than lineup this week, sticks full but just a little outside the line. Kendall Abney, Tkatcehv caught, toe-on full to double tuck is stuck.
AFTER TWO: UCLA 98.650, MSU 98.275
MSU’s turn to respond, both after last week’s counting a fall and this week’s one fall. The Spartans did so, but not quite as crisply as UCLA scoring-wise. Good to see Zsarmani feeling more confident after a fall last week, and Kellerman continuing with her rock-solid presence. UCLA’s vaults also dipped into the 9.7s, some form and dynamic issues, but landings look solid, with the gap now widening.
Rotation 3: Michigan State BB, UCLA FX
Duplissis (MSU) VT: Triple series we get the back camera but can tell just a small check, beat jump into split 3/4 slight check but stays on, sticks 1.5 dismount with some arm circles. 9.750
Rosen (UCLA) FX: Great control on double tuck landing with chest up, double pike slightly less so but chest up still, ring to straddle to sheep jump back 1.5 to front lay, yes three pass routine! 9.850
Abney (MSU) BB: Double wolf turn is secure, BHS LOSO no hesitation, slight bob after switch leap into the next one, side aerial into tuck 1.5 dismount and sticks as well. 9.825
Alipio (UCLA) FX: Double pike some feet form but chest up, love her dance at the Florence + The Machine part, same leaps as Rosen, ring position is beautiful, wolf turn camera angle only shows it from far away while focusing on the team cheering, wut is up with these camera workers… back 1.5 to front lay whippy but got around. 9.850
Tucker (MSU) BB: Beat jump to front aerial, slight bobble before BHS, straddle quarter is 180 but another check there, sticks gainer full chest up. 9.875
Barros (UCLA) FX: Back 1.5 to front lay, love the Elvis Crespo music, front tuck through to double tuck chest up and stuck in place. First time in the competitive lineup for floor. 9.900
Smith (MSU) BB: Series secure, beat to straddle half no checks either and just about 180, sticks double tuck and that is 4/4 sticks for MSU on beam! 9.925
Sumanasekera (UCLA) FX: DLO takes a step forward, leaps are 180 and head back on ring, Janelle doing her choreo as well. Back 1.5 to front lay. 9.850
Trostel (MSU) BB: Slightly tentative going into straddle but hits 180, beat jump to Onodi and comes off today. Slight stall in momentum. BHS LOSO hit with no issues, gainer full stuck. 9.100
Sullivan (UCLA) FX: DLO controlled lunge. Front tuck through to double back. She gives superstar vibes with that routine. 9.825
Cosman (MSU) BB: Love her “Die Trying” beam music! Side aerial to BHS, looked a little nervous going into it but no problems. Switch leap into swingdown, ice in her veins to finish with ANOTHER stuck landing with the 1.5 Also death drops to celebrate. 9.900
Chiles (UCLA) FX: DLO controlled lunge, will be the first to say I’m not enchanted by sideline choreo but I actually love everyone mouthing “uh huh,” “yeah,” “whoo” to Whitney. Leaps are controlled. Double tuck huge air and landing controlled. 10.000, 29.925 AA thus far.
AFTER THREE: UCLA 148.100, MSU 147.550
Chiles is on track for a banner day as UCLA continues rolling through, showing off undeniable performance quality and no major mistakes. Michigan State impressed with six stuck landings in the rotation, showing tenacity and a desire to move forward. I’m thinking the score will be the one the Spartans will overall be proudest of this season. Side note, per broadcast 9,887 at the Breslin Center is the Spartans’ new attendance record.
Rotation 4: UCLA BB, Michigan State FX
Rosen (UCLA) BB: Switch to switch half, slight check going into Onodi after beat, fared better on it than Trostel. BHS LOSO. Back 1.5 has to step backwards. 9.775
Lebster (MSU) FX: Rudi to LOSO, love the side aerial to straddle jump as some acros mid-choreo, ending with a front double full is a flex but just a bit underrotated. I love the music and choreo in that routine. 9.875
Sullivan (UCLA) BB: Front aerial to BHS with a check but stays on, back 1.5 dismount teeters to the side a bit but stays on her feet. 9.775
Cosman (MSU) FX: 2.5 to punch front and sticks coming out of it, back 1.5 to front full. Double wolf turn around is secure to end, another flex so close to the end of the routine. 9.850
Sumanasekera (UCLA) BB: BHS LOSO no hesitation, front aerial to beat jump. Split to split ring, back 1.5 dismount some movement. Little to take there. 9.825
Duplissis (MSU) FX: Overcooks piked full-in with a few lunges and I believe she went OOB. Back 1.5 to front lay stuck. 9.775, looks like no OOB was taken.
Eichman (UCLA) BB: BHS LOSO secure, side somi same, no checks. 180 on leap into switch half, punch front tuck full and a small hop forward.
Ortiz (MSU) FX: Full in chest down and a hop forward. Great facial expressions and performance quality. Front tuck through to double back and another hop forward, her two-foot landings remind me a little of Simone Biles. The bass is super loud on this part of the music, oversplit on straddle leaps. 9.775
Chiles (UCLA) BB: BHS LOSO some leg form but bang on, chest down on switch side, side aerial is secure. Sticks double full dismount. Big AA total incoming. Went 9.950, total AA is 39.875, just short of her 39.900 record.
Tucker (MSU) FX: Rudi to LOSO right on the edge, front double full perfectly controlled, all leaps hitting 180. 9.925
Alipio (UCLA) BB: Triple series in line and no checks. Gainer tuck a little to the side but sticks. 9.950
Smith (MSU) FX: Man my stream JUST cut out at the end, come back to see front through to big double tuck. 9.925
FINAL: UCLA 197.425, MSU 196.900
UCLA will retake its place in the top five with that performance, with Chiles’s 19th best all time AA score pumping it up. Vault still has room for improvement, but the Bruins continue to improve, and I was impressed by the freshmen and new performers who slotted into lineups in the absence of the ill Nola Matthews and Mika Webster-Longin. I stand by my prior statement that MSU should be and likely is the happiest of all with this performance so far. Some bizarre scoring to be sure, but the team looked overall confident and didn’t allow falls to rattle it. Also, credit to the Breslin Center and crowd in East Lansing; that place looked massive and full.
VT: Chiles 9.975
UB: Chiles 9.950
BB: Alipio and Chiles 9.95
FX: Chiles 10.000
AA: Chiles 39.875
READ THIS NEXT: Questions, Comments, Concerns: Week 3
Live Blog by Katherine Weaver
