Eagles Soar Past Owls, 193.925-187.200, to Kickoff 2015 Campaign

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University kicked off the 2015 campaign with a dominating 193.925-187.200 victory over the Temple University Owls Friday night, Jan. 9. The dual victory was the first regular season meet under new Head Coach Jay Santos.

"Opening up the season with a victory is great. It was nice to get the first one out of the way," noted Coach Santos. "I think the girls did a really good job tonight. We definitely made some mistakes and have plenty of room for improvement, but to start off the season with nearly a 194.000, I am really pleased."

The Eagles got off to a strong start on vault for a 48.550, while the Owls totaled a score of 44.300 on the uneven parallel bars. Senior Anna Willette and freshman Kendall Valentin each earned 9.750 to lead the Eagles and tie for top honors in the event. Sophomore Sydney McEachern received a 9.725 on her first vault in the EMU lineup for third place, and Catie Conrad added a 9.675 on the apparatus in her first collegiate meet to finish in a tie for fourth.

In the second rotation, the Green and White continued to control the dual by taking the top six spots on the bars. After sitting out last season due to injury Lacey Rubin made her first meet as an Eagle a memorable one, tallying a 9.750 to win the event. Valentin continued her strong debut with a 9.725 to claim runner-up. Willette took third by earning a 9.700, while McEachern and Carrina Lo Bello performed routines of 9.625 and 9.600, respectively. Senior Nikki Paterson rounded out the sweep with a 9.600.

The Owls edged EMU slightly on the beam, 48.225-48.175, for their only event victory of the evening. Temple's Alexis Arena claimed the top score with a 9.750, but Lo Bello and Conrad followed closely behind with marks of 9.725. Willette, and NCAA Regional qualifier from a season ago, rounded out the top-five with a 9.675. In her first beam routine donning the Green and White, Valentin received a 9.625 from the judges.

Eastern ended the meet on the floor exercise, putting together an impressive 48.800 for its highest event score of the night and capping off the victory in style. Much like she did during the 2014, senior Chantelle Loehner paced the Eagles with a routine that wowed the judges for career-high tying 9.850. The score was enough for first place in the event, while McEachern posted a personal-best 9.800 to finish second. Taking third in her EMU debut was freshman Rachel Slocum, who glided around the floor for a 9.775. Lo Bello tied with Temple's Lauren Capone for fourth place as each recorded a 9.725. Capone was the only gymnast to compete in all four events; she completed the meet with a 38.075.

Coach Santos was extremely proud of the way his team concluded the season-opening meet. "We finished the night a 48.800 on floor, which is fantastic. It felt great putting a score that strong on our final event. It's a good start, and hopefully we can build on it, getting stronger as the season goes on."

After opening the season with a non-conference dual, the Eagles will hit the road to begin Mid-American Conference play. The start of conference action will be difficult for EMU as the Green and White travel north to face defending MAC champion and preseason favorite Central Michigan University. The conference lid lifter will take place Saturday evening, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. from Mount Pleasant, Mich.

EMU Results (* = Career high score in the event)

Vault
1. Valentin, Kendall 9.750*
1. Willette, Anna 9.750
3. McEachern, Sydney 9.725*
4. Conrad, Catie 9.675*
6. Ebeyer, Kimberly 9.650
7. Miller, Paulina 9.625

Bars
1. Rubin, Lacey 9.750*
2. Valentin, Kendall 9.725*
3. Willette, Anna 9.700
4. McEachern, Sydney 9.625*
5. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.600
6. Paterson, Nikki 9.500

Beam
2. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.725
2. Conrad, Catie 9.725*
5. Willette, Anna 9.675
6. Valentin, Kendall 9.625*
10. Gervais, Natalie 9.425
11. Rubin, Lacey 8.950*

Floor
1. Loehner, Chantelle 9.850*
2. McEachern, Sydney 9.800*
3. Slocum, Rachel 9.775*
4. Lo Bello, Carrina 9.725*
6. Miller, Paulina 9.650
11. Gendron, Kirsten 8.875

Eagles Soar Past Owls, 193.925-187.200, to Kickoff 2015 Campaign

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Players Mentioned

Catie Conrad

Carrina Lo Bello

Chantelle Loehner

Sydney McEachern

Nikki Paterson

Lacey Rubin

Rachel Slocum

Kendall Valentin

Anna Willette

Eastern Michigan Athletics