Women's gymnastics puts up highest score of season and sets or ties 12 personals records in a loss to Stanford by a tenth of a point

It's fitting that Monica Bisordi is from the Bay Area, because Friday against Stanford, she had a performance to write home about.

The No. 17 Arizona gymnastics team (4-7, 1-4) put up its highest score of the season, narrowly losing to No. 8 Stanford (9-2-1, 4-1-1), 196.850-196.950, at McKale Center.

Despite falling short in the overall battle, the real story was the team's record-setting individual performances.

The Gymcats broke or tied 12 personal records, including Bisordi and sophomore Jamie Duce, both of whom set career highs in the All-Around. Bisordi, who is ranked No. 15 in the All-Around, won her fifth title in the event, out-dueling Stanford's Lise LŽvillŽ, ranked No. 5, who finished third. Bisordi also set or tied personal records in every other event except the vault.

Bisordi, a graduate of Notre Dame High School in San Mateo, Calif., tied with the Cardinal's Natalie Foley for the All-Around title with 39.600, matching the highest score of her career.

Bisordi said her performance was extra rewarding because Steve Ohel, her club coach, is an assistant for Stanford.

"This is my second time getting my highest All-Around, so I was really happy. Because (after) the first time, I didn't really think it would be possible to do it again," Bisori said. "I've just been training really hard and set my mind to getting that score again so it feels really, really good."

Duce also had a career meet, setting personal records in every event and finishing fourth in the All-Around with 39.300, a career high.

Arizona had season-highs on the bars (49.375), the fourth best score in school history, and season-highs on the beam (49.275) and floor (49.500), which were both the second highest of all time. Their score of 196.850 is the Gymcats' third-highest ever.

"Jamie Duce just had a fantastic meet, and Monica Bisordi (did too)," said head coach Bill Ryden. "We just had many great performances. We just basically came and showed what we're about. We really showed how good of a team we are."

Though the Gymcats topped Stanford on the bars, beam and floor UA was never able to catch up from falling behind after the first rotation.

Ryden said the team's weakness on the vault was because two of the team's best in the event were hurt.

"We put about everything out there that we could," Ryden said. "We competed to the very last routine, which is what our goal is.

Ryden also said he was happy with the team's overall performance, considering its injuries.

"I'm very proud. It hurts to lose by a tenth, but it just goes to show you that if we get a little healthier who knows where we'll be."

On Friday, the Gymcats head to Berkeley to take on No. 25 California before competing in their last home meet the following week against No. 19 Oklahoma.