The Barometer Online

Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jeff Wick Senior Jami Lanz competes for the final time inside Gill Coliseum tonight. Lanz and the No. 9 Beavers play host to Seattle Pacific and the University of Washington. Preview story for the meet begins on page A7.

For the final time in the 2009 season, Oregon State will run out in front of a packed Gill Coliseum to perform for Beaver Nation.

The No. 9 Beavers get a chance at revenge against the No. 22 Washington GymDawgs, which snapped OSU's five-year winning streak against UW two weeks ago in Seattle. Also competing in the meet will be the Seattle Pacific Falcons, but the main focus of the night will be on Oregon State's six seniors.

"I think we are much more settled down," senior Kera Bolen said. "We want to get at it. We want to show them what kind of team we are."

Oregon State is fresh off a 196.350 against UCLA at last week's meet, which featured post-season-like judging. The meet also marked the return of freshman Olivia Vivian, who posted a career -high 9.75 in the meet.

The Beavers feature 10 gymnasts ranked in the top 26 in the nation as individuals. On vault, junior Mandi Rodriguez and senior Jami Lanz are ranked No. 4 and No. 25, respectively.

"We have to stick the landings," Lanz said. "That is what the judges separate, because there are so many Yurchenko fulls in the postseason."

Phenomenal freshman Leslie Mak and her uneven bar partner in crime, Jen Kesler, hold down spots No. 7 and No. 12 in the nation on the apparatus, while Lanz and junior Laura-Ann Chong are No. 16 and No. 26 on beam.

"On our handstands on bars [coach] John [Carney] has come up with a strategy for us to hit handstands easily and more consistently," Rodriguez said. "That should make a big difference, and hopefully we will see that in our scores."

After being ranked No. 1 on the floor exercise each of the last two meets, Rodriguez dropped to No. 2, while Lanz is No. 8 in the country. Rodriguez and Lanz - OSU's all-arounders - both ranked in the top 15 in the nation at No. 8 and No. 15.

Rodriguez took home Pac-10 Special Performance of the Week last weekend after scoring a 9.925 on vault and 9.95 on the floor, claiming individual titles on both apparatuses.

Continued...

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