April 24, 2003

Lincoln, Neb. -- The Arizona State University women's gymnastics team placed fourth out of six teams in Session I of the 2003 NCAA Championships Thursday, eliminating them from postseason competition in Lincoln, Nebraska. The top three teams advance from each session to the Super Six, which begins at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, April 25 at the Devaney Center. The second session follows tonight.

UCLA (196.950) won the session while Alabama (196.775) was second and Michigan (196.125) third. ASU (194.225) placed fourth, followed by LSU (194.000, fifth) and Iowa (193.825, sixth).

Senior Ashley Ellsberry and junior Maggie Germaine led the sixth-seeded Sun Devils, finishing 10th and 11th, respectively in the all-around competition. Ellsberry scored 39.025 while Germaine posted a 38.975.

"I'm disappointed in our performance today," said 23rd-year Sun Devil head coach John Spini, "but I'm proud of my team. We had a tremendous year and we accomplished a lot. We're young and we will be back with most of this team next year. I';m hoping that we can finish ranked anywhere from sixth to ninth in the nation."

In the first rotation, ASU scored its lowest beam total of the campaign, a 48.275. The Sun Devils had to count a fall in the team score as both Cassidy Vreeke (9.050) and Kari Muth (9.100) fell in the first two spots. Senior Ashley Ellsberry led ASU with a 9.875 (fifth) while freshman Ashley Kelly posted a 9.825 (T-11th).

After a second rotation bye, the Sun Devils scored a 49.025 on floor, led by Germaine's 9.850 (T-8th). Ellsberry's 9.825 tied her for 12th with eight gymnasts. Kelly tied for 20th at 9.8 and junior Carla DeMartini and sophomore Kari Muth tied for 23rd (9.775).

ASU competed on vault in the fourth rotation, recording its second-lowest event score of the year (48.600). DeMartini's 9.750 (T-16th) represented ASU's high event score. Kelly and Ellsberry each posted 9.725's (T-20th).

After a fifth rotation bye, the Devils finished on uneven bars with a 48.325. Germaine and Muth tied for 23rd with five other gymnasts with 9.725's.

No one from ASU qualified individually for Saturday's NCAA Individual Finals.

For complete results of the 2003 NCAA Championships, go to www.huskers.com.

Team Scores (Session I)
1. UCLA	196.950
2. Alabama	196.775
3. Michigan	196.125
4. Arizona State	194.225
5. LSU	194.000
6. Iowa	193.825
ASU Event Scores
Beam	(48.275)
Ashley Ellsberry	9.875
Ashley Kelly	9.825
Amber Giorgianni	9.775
Maggie Germaine	9.700
Kari Muth	9.100
Cassidy Vreeke	9.050
Floor	(49.025)
Maggie Germaine	9.850
Ashley Ellsberry	9.825
Ashley Kelly	9.800
Carla Demartini	9.775
Kari Muth	9.775
Cassidfy Vreeke	9.725
Vault	(48.600)
Carla DeMartini	9.750
Ashley Kelly	9.725
Ashley Ellsberry	9.725
Jada Cox	9.700
Maggie Germaine	9.700
Cassidy Vreeke	9.675
Bars	(48.325)
Maggie Germaine	9.725
Kari Muth	9.725
Carla DeMartini	9.650
Margaret Wojciak	9.625
Ashley Ellsberry	9.600
Ashley Kelly	9.275