The women’s gymnastics team took second place in the meet against Cal State Fullerton, Sunday in the Hornets Nest.

The Hornets won the Western Athletic Conference championship last year marking the seventh season in the last eight, in which the team won the league title. The team also advanced to the National Collegiate Athletic Association for the second consecutive year.

The team also returns with five seniors from last year, including Melissa Genovese, Nicole Giao, Hava McCarter-Ribakoff, Alyssa Onaga and Alexis Tsurumoto.

With a score of 189.0 the Hornets (0-1) lost to the Titans (1-1) who landed a mark of 189.525. This meet was the first home meet for the Hornets and the first of the regular season.

The loss was unusual as the team had won three of the previous four home openers.The meet consists of four events including vault, the uneven bars, balance beam and the floor exercise.

Junior Marina Borisova took first place in bars and beam.

Just like the rest of her team, Borisova is looking to do well the entire season.

“We (want) to win the conference and be prepared for regionals. Last year we won conference, but had no power and energy for regionals and this year we want to win conference, but still have energy to do well at regionals,” Borisova said.

Borisova has also increased her difficulty level this season.

“I have raised my levels and they are pretty hard so there is potential to get higher scores,” Borisova said.

Genovese is an all-arounder, meaning she competes in every event. With two falls in the meet, Genovese felt that her nerves had a little part in her performance.

“In the first meet, nerves always play a role. We were just so excited, because practice has been going so well, so I think we were just a little too excited and over eager,” Genovese said.

Genovese said the team has other goals for the season other than obtaining the WAC title.

“We definitely want to be more consistent in every meet. We want to get a higher RQS (regional qualifying score) and make it to regionals again and improve on our performance there as well,” Genovese said.

Freshman Alycia Chan also did her part competing in three of the four events and doing an exhibition on the fourth.

“It’s exciting. I didn’t think I was going to be doing that many events but I’m excited that I get to do it. I might exhibition another meet or so, but I’m working on it,” Chan said.

Coach Kim Hughes also noticed that the team’s performance was not at a level in which the women usually perform. In the floor event, one of the team’s best events, it was unusual that five of the six competitors fell during their floor routine.

“Well it was a surprise to all of us. It is hard to judge or figure out right at this moment why it happens. It is just stuff we have to discuss and work on,” Hughes said.

The Hornets’ next home meet will take place on Jan. 25 against San Jose State in the Hornets Nest at 7 p.m.

Alicia de la Garza can be reached at [email protected]