Boise State and Southern Utah face off for the second week in a row — but this time, it’s senior night in Boise.
Last week, Southern Utah took the win with a season-high 196.900, fueled by their best beam and vault performances of the year. The Thunderbirds will aim to ride that momentum into Boise, looking for another strong road score to boost their NQS. After early-season struggles on beam, the lineup has stabilized with Niya Randolph in the leadoff spot — a key factor in their recent success. A repeat beam hit will be crucial if they want to edge out Boise State again.
The Broncos, meanwhile, will be seeking redemption and a big send-off for their seniors. Vault will be a focus after scoring under 49.000 last week, but bars could give them the edge — Boise State has scored as high as 49.375 this season, led by standouts Emily Lopez and Kristina Shchennikova.
With two evenly matched teams and high stakes on both sides, this one could come down to the final routine!
Looks like introductions are just now starting, so will be a few before we get started. No significant line up changes today. My stream keeps replaying the same 12 seconds of the commentators talking about a graphic, not sure exactly what’s going on…Okay now it says break in progress, fingers crossed we’re rolling in just a few minutes
okay finally getting started, first vault at 9:17….
Rotation 1: Boise State VT, Southern Utah UB
Kho (VT): Stream did not pick up this up, 9.725
Randolph (UB): Maloney, Bail… and now the stream is frozen…. and missed the rest, 9.825
Krzywanski (VT): Yurchenko full, small shuffle not a lot of distance, 9.775
Neff (UB): Frozen stream again, commentator is speaking as if there was a fall? I feel like she was off the bars for wayy more than 30 seconds. Double layout with a stick once she remounts. 8.350
Ball (VT): Yurchenko half on pike, solid
Still having streaming issues on computer, trying to watch on phone and both streams are lagging like crazy, so not and ideal situation.
Hampton (UB): so got to see a double layout with a step and that’s it..9.800
Kemp (VT): video stopped mid run and started with the high fives…9.775
Ferguson (UB): coming in late again, short handstand, double layout with a step. 9.800
Vulaj (VT): 9.800
Christensen (UB): Good handstand, after the release. Nice bail, stuck double lay dismount 9.900
Lopez (VT): Yurchenko full, nice blog and distance, small hop. 9.825
Routsis (UB): Maloney, Bail fine. Toe on, double layout, with a stick. 9.850
AFTER ONE: Southern Utah 49.175, Boise State 48.900
Southern Utah leads after one but almost three tenths. I was having so much trouble with the stream, so I did not catch a ton. But looking at scores and what I did catch, it’s good that Southern Utah was able to recover from a missed routine in the second spot and Christensen’s 9.900 was important. Boise State made its way throughout its weakest event with a solid 48.900, and now gets to head its strongest event- bars.
Rotation 2: Southern Utah VT, Boise State UB
Cacciola (VT): Yurchenko full, got the stick, nice distance per usual. Very strong start. 9.850
Werline (UB): Stream issues, half pirouette fine. Giant full, double tuck with a step 9.825
Kelly (VT): Yurchenko full on, pike off, small hop. Solid, much improved from earlier in the season! 9.850
Buell (UB): Little short on a hs, Maloney, Bail, big leg separation on Maloney. Stuck double lay dismount, nice 9.875
Hampton (VT): Yurchenko full, nearly stuck, one foot moves in place. Not as high as Cacciola’s 9.825
Ball (UB): And the stream issues are back… seems like she stuck a dismount?
Randolph (VT): Yurchenko full, huge block, hop back. 9.800, this is shaping up to be a big rotation for Southern Utah
Shchennikova (UB): Why does the Boise State stream hate Boise State…. paused while she was getting ready to mount and restarted after she was done. 9.850
Also a big rotation for Boise State as scores keep rolling in.
Christensen (VT): Yurchenkno 1.5, nearly stuck, but takes a shuffle backwards, distance is good 9l825
Lopez (UB): Again… but scores a massive 9.925
Thomson (VT): Yurchenko full, hop back, pike down.
Leitch (UB): same deal 🙁
AFTER TWO: Southern Utah 98.325, Boise State 98.250
This stream is my nightmare, but through 2 rotations both teams are having very strong days. Boise State posted a massive 49.350 on bars while Southern Utah scored a 49.150 on vault. Cacciola’s stuck vault was huge for them and near sticks from Kelly and Hampton kept the momentum going. On to beam and floor.
Rotation 3: Boise State BB, Southern Utah FX
Vulaj (BB): Bhs, loso is secure
Stream keeps replaying like the first ten seconds leading up to her routine…. perfect! And we missed Hampton’s FX
Hampton (FX): 9.825
Kho (BB): Candle mount, Bhs, back pike, solid. Full turn. Front aerial, small check. Sissone, switch half, solid position the switch half and the stream cuts, 9.825
Jumping over to floor…
Fernandez (FX): Controlled double tuck, front foot does move, and stream out again…9.825
Lopez (BB): Solid series. Nice full turn. Split jump half from side position. Cat leap, front toss, beat jump, solid. Stuck gainer full, nice senior night for her. 9.850
Christensen (FX): Back 1.5, front full, great control. Switch side, straddle jump. Double tuck, well done. 9.900
Loyim (BB): Bhs, loso, loso, balance check. Full turn. Side aerial, nice. Missed the leaps, gainer full with a hop. 9.725
Randolph (FX): Split leg double layout and OOB. Cut out in the middle… Front tuck through to double tuck, nice landing position.
Shchennikova (BB): Secure series. Full turn. Really nice split jump quarter. Beat jump into an acro… and the stream paused and missed the rest 9.875!
Cacciola (FX): Whip double tuck…. cuts out for the middle… strong Rudi to finish, 9.875
Leitch (BB): Full turn. Bhs, two foot layout, solid…. cut out in the middle. Switch leap, gainer pike with a hop.
Gull (FX): 9.850
AFTER THREE: Southern Utah 147.650, Boise State 147.375
Both teams are still cruising, but could’ve been a touch sharper. From what I was able to see Boise State hit all routines but had a couple balance checks, while Southern Utah had an OOB it would otherwise would’ve been a really strong score for Randolph. Last rotation is coming up next, Southern Utah has the lead but Boise State could pull out the victory and it goes to floor while the Thunderbirds go to beam.
Oh a review showed Randolph was on the line not over, bumps Southern Utah up half a tenth.
Rotation 4: Southern Utah BB, Boise State FX
Randolph (BB): Wolf turn, front toss, bhs, a little slow. Straddle jump, straddle quarter, could be more extended Stuck back 1.5, good start. 9.800
Vulaj (FX): Back 1.5, front full, and we’re paused… 9.875!
Christensen (BB): Side aerial, bhs, some knee form. Keeps pausing and then rewinding the same 10 seconds…9.850 and a nice 39.475 in the AA!
Kemp (FX): 9.800
Bringhurst (BB): 9.725, she’s struggled at times this year, so nice for her to get another hit going in to postseason
McGovern (FX): 9.875, Boise State building momentum here, Southern Utah needs to keep pace on beam
Cacciola (BB): And a fall, 9.325, pressure is on for Miller and Ferguson
I’ve opened the stream in like 5 different browsers and its STILL stuck on the start of Christensen’s beam routine…
Pascal (FX): 9.900, Boise is surging
Miller (BB): and another fall, 9.100
Loyim (FX): A hit here will give Boise the win on senior day! 9.825, that’ll do it!
Ferguson (BB):
Melchert (FX): 9.925
FINAL: Boise State 196.775 Southern Utah 196.150
A season high on senior night for Boise State gets it the winner over Southern Utah. While stream issues prevented me from catching most of the action, strong performance on bars and a season high on floor led the Broncos to victory. Southern Utah was having a solid day, especially on vault, but ultimately had to count a fall on beam.
VT: Ellie Cacciola, Mackenzie Kelly, 9.850
UB: Emily Lopez 9.925
BB: Kristina Shchennikova 9.875
FX: Julia Melchert 9.925
AA: Brinlee Christensen 39.475
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Live blog by Rebecca Williams
