With good reason.

Two things happened Friday night at the Huntsman Center that would have gotten a different reaction if it weren't for the fact that it was a season opener: the Utes upset the defending three-time national champions, while Postell had a better score than Courtney Kupets, who has topped Postell in the all-around competition at the last two NCAA Championships.

Again, Postell wasn't celebrating.

"It's just the first meet," she said. "We've got a ways to go."

She later said, "It's like whatever. I'm not focused on that."

Perhaps it's because neither Postell and her Utes, nor Kupets and her Gym Dogs, performed at their best.

The Utes started slowly and had some luck on their side when two Gym Dogs - including Kupets - fell off their beam routines. That, of course, spelled doom for Georgia and a 196.300-196.200 win for the Utes in front of their home crowd of 13,339.

Also, one of Georgia's best gymnasts wasn't at her best, as Tiffany Tolnay performed despite not having practiced all week due to illness.

Still, Postell won the all-around with a score of 39.525, and teammate Kristina Baskett finished second with a 39.10. Tolnay had a 38.925, and Kupets rounded out the all-around competition with a 38.825.

"The fact that we already had a fall, the fact that it was a little bit different, she held back a little bit. Just a little bit," coach Suzanne Yoculan said of Kupets' mistake on beam.

"I know what I did," Kupets said. "It won't happen again."

Yoculan talked about how Kupets can attempt 200 beam routines and only two would result in falls. In fact, Kupets had one fall on the beam last season.

But Postell, who beat Kupets last year in the Super Six finals, didn't overlook the importance of the team win and her individual performances - as there are many more meets left.

"Just being here, obviously, with this being my fourth year," Postell said, "it starts to come a little bit easier."

csun@sltrib.com

Name, Team Vault Bars Beam Floor Score

Ashley Postell, Utah 9.850 9.875 9.90 9.90 39.525

Kristina Baskett, Utah 9.825 9.90 9.775 9.60 39.10

Tiffany Tolnay, Georgia 9.825 9.85 9.375 9.875 38.925

Courtney Kupets, Georgia 9.875 9.950 9.30 9.70 38.825