Utah gymnastics notes: Ute alternates deliver

Notes • Delaney and Dabritz were pulled from lineup due to illness, injury.

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Injuries and illnesses proved to be Utah's biggest competition Friday as the Utes beat a struggling Washington team 197.125-193.475 at the Huntsman Center.

Kailah Delaney, who has competed on everything but the uneven bars the last two meets, was pulled from the balance beam and floor lineup because she was sick.

Georgia Dabritz was also pulled from the beam lineup after suffering a minor glute injury that was aggravated by her leap series.

The absences didn't hurt the Utes too much though, as Becky Tutka scored a 9.8 on the beam and Mary Beth Lofgren led off the floor with a 9.9.

Tutka's routine was her first of the season and just shy of her career high of 9.875 she earned last year against Florida.

Lofgren's score was a career high and was particularly satisfying since she lost her spot in the lineup last week against Oregon State.

"It stinks when you have people sick or injured, but it was fun to be in there," Lofgren said.

Breanna Hughes was the only sub who had trouble, as she fell off the beam scoring a 9.2.

"I was really happy with the way the alternate spots went," Utah coach Greg Marsden said. "We've talked about how on any given night we have others good enough to be in the lineup, and it was nice for them to get that opportunity. It builds confidence and makes a statement that maybe they should be in the lineup."

No go

The Huskies went with just five gymnasts on the vault after Janae Janik injured her foot during her uneven bars routine. Janik, who scored a 9.825, was scheduled to compete third in the lineup.

Washington could have replaced her but didn't have another gymnast who could compete because two other gymnasts were out of the meet with injuries.

The Huskies had to settle with a 48.575 on the vault.

Unusual error

Hailee Hansen's fall from the uneven bars Friday was her first of the season and the first for the Utes on the apparatus since they had two falls in the season opener.

Hansen, who scored a 9.15, has fallen from the bars only twice previously and is 33-for-36 in her career on the event.

Marsden said Hansen simply went early on her release.

"That isn't typical of her," he said. "I'm not worried about that."

lwodraska@sltrib.com