It will be more than just a final home meet for the No. 2-ranked Stanford women’s gymnastics team this weekend. The Cardinal will have a chance to move closer to making a little history when it plays host to Arizona State on Sunday in Maples Pavilion at 2 p.m.
The meet also acts as Stanford’s Senior Day, during which the Cardinal will honor seniors Shelley Alexander, Danielle Ikoma, and Allyse Ishino.
Stanford (14-0) has an opportunity to complete the dual-meet season undefeated for the first time in its history with a victory over the No. 33 Sun Devils this weekend and also at a quad meet at Cal next week.
Arizona State (4-8) has won its past two duals.
Cardinal sophomore Ashley Morgan is the nation’s top-ranked gymnast on floor exercise and the team is ranked among the nation’s top four in every event.
The seniors are tri-captains and have been important to the Stanford lineup for the past three seasons.
Alexander was last year’s NCAA Southeast Regional champion on both the vault and beam. Ikoma is one of the most versatile performers on the team and a regular in at least two events in each of the past three years and a Super Six veteran. Ishino has the top all-around average on the team this season.
Stanford competing in its third meet in eight days, beating host Arizona, 195.300-194.675, last Friday, extending Stanford’s season-opening winning streak to a school-record 14 straight.
Ishino will be a spectator this weekend. She is expected to miss 3-5 weeks after spraining her ankle on the floor against Arizona. She could return, in a limited role, for the Pac-10 Championships on March 19 in Los Angeles, but more likely would return for the NCAA regional on April 2.
— Rick Eymer
— Rick Eymer
— Rick Eymer