California at Oregon State

Recap

The Big Storyline: Finished off by a 9.975 from Jade Carey, a battle between two of the Pac-12s unbeaten teams in conference action ended with both teams remaining unbeaten. California led for the first three rotations before the Beavers stormed back on floor after setting themselves up nicely on beam. Carey was her usual, sweeping the events, while the Golden Bears’ Li stood out amongst their five all-arounders as their only event winner and second place all-around finisher at 39.625.

Implications: A second tie in Pac-12 duals, both involving Oregon State, will continue to convolute the conference regular season standings as we hit, roughly, the halfway point. The Beavers still have Utah, the only other unbeaten team, left on their schedule while the Golden Bears host UCLA and travel to Salt Lake City the next two weekends.

Records: Oregon State set a new season high team total and a season best on bars.

Controversies: Originally, Carey’s near-perfect floor score won the meet in walk-off fashion as Oregon State led by a quarter-tenth. After the meet had ended, Mya Lauzon’s floor score from the third rotation was raised to a 9.900 to bump California’s team total and change the result of the dual to a tie.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 7 California at No. 13 Oregon State

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: At least one of the Pac-12’s three unbeaten teams will (likely) fall as two of last season’s co-champions face off in a conference-defining dual. Both team’s are on the rise and are capable of living up to their nationals aspirations, with this battle giving the winning team huge momentum in the conference and NCAA races.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Jade Carey is always the favorite in the all-around, but keep an eye on Mya Lauzon, whose 39.700 last weekend tied California’s program record and could easily challenge Oregon State’s leader should she falter. Bars will be the make-or-break event, as it’s where the Golden Bears excel and the Beavers struggle; Oregon State needs to surpass 49 to keep it close with California.