Jan. 10, 2009

Complete Results | Photo Gallery 

LEXINGTON, Kent. - In its first-ever trip to Kentucky, Utah State gymnastics came up on the short end of a 191.100-187.150 score at No. 25 Kentucky Saturday night at Lexington, Kent., in the first meet of the Jeff Richards era as Aggie head coach.

Richards is in his first season guiding the USU program, replacing legendary head coach Ray Corn, who retired after 31 seasons guiding the Aggie program.

Sophomore Nicole Simoneau and freshman Rebecca Holliday were the only USU gymnasts to finish in the top three in the events, as Simoneau was second on bars with a 9.800 while Holliday was third on beam with a 9.625 in her Aggie debut.

Junior Heather Heinrich was third in the all-around with a 37.575 while senior Nicki Felley was fourth, posting a 36.750 and Holliday was fifth posting a 36.400. Kentucky's Hilary Ferguson and Andrea Mitchell were first and second, respectively, with 39.275 and 38.575 scores.

Utah State opened the night on bars with a pair of freshmen making their Aggie debuts, as Brandie Dickson started things off with a 9.475, followed by a 9.150 from Rebecca Holliday. Next, sophomore Jackie Dillon logged a 9.600, a new career-best. Junior Heather Heinrich and senior Nicki Felley followed with a 9.325 and 9.350 respectively, before sophomore Nicole Simoneau concluded the rotation with a 9.750, to give the Aggies a 47.500 for bars.

Meanwhile, Kentucky was on vault, posting a 49.100.

Switching events, USU moved to vault, where Holliday opened with an 8.825, preceding Simoneau's 9.425. Felley followed with a 9.475 with Dillon then posting a 9.625, matched by Heinrich, notching a team-score of 46.975.

Kentucky had three falls on bars and ended the rotation with a 47.125, leaving Utah State tralining, 96.275-94.525, at the midway-point of the meet.

The Aggies were on floor for the third rotation, with Dillon leading off with an 8.825. In her USU debut, redshirt-freshman Erica Huelsman posted a 9.550. Next, Holliday scored an 8.800 before Heinrich and Felley notched a 9.650 and 9.550, respectively. Utah State posted a team-score of 46.325 while Kentucky logged a 46.775 on beam, and the Aggies trailed, 143.050-140.850, entering the fourth and final rotation.

On beam, Huelsmann started with 9.400, followed by freshman Haley Hogan's USU debut with a 9.050, then Felley's 8.325. Holliday then notched a 9.625, then Simoneau scored a 9.100 and Heinrich concluded the rotation with an 8.975, leaving USU with a 46.150. Kentucky scored a 48.050 to secure the win.

Utah State hosts Central Michigan on Friday, Jan. 16 in the Aggies' home opener at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The meet starts at 7 p.m. (MT).

Tickets are available through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by calling or (435) 797-0305 or 1-888-U-STATE-1 (1-888-878-2831).

-USU-