The fall was just the third fall out of 120 routines competed by Utah this season. Utah has yet to count a fall.

It's a near reversal of the 2007 season, when Utah was inconsistent and scored 9.4 or lower in 30 of the 228 routines it competed in the regular season. Most of the falls or near-falls were on the balance beam (14), followed by floor (nine) and the uneven bars (seven).

"Everyone is a lot better this year, so we're not worrying about if we're going to make a routine or miss it," junior Kristina Baskett said. "It's more of, 'I know I'm going to make it, it's just how well. Is it going to be a 9.9 or a 9.7?' We've moved a step forward from 'if I'm going to fall or stay on,' and that was the thing last year."

Utah coach Greg Marsden believes the Utes' consistency is a product of the team's good preseason, relating the practices to studying for a test.

"If you really do a good job with preparation, you look forward to competing," he said. "If you haven't, somewhere deep inside, you are nervous about how you are going to do."

But just because the Utes are handling their skills so well now doesn't mean the gymnasts are suddenly going to start upgrading their routines, beyond the upgrades already planned, Marsden said.

"We're not going to make up stuff at this point. If we were going to do that, we'd do it in the offseason," he said.

In the polls

Utah maintained its No. 2 ranking behind Georgia, while Florida, Alabama and Michigan rounded out the top five. Kent State entered the rankings at No. 25, replacing Illinois-Champaign.

Individually, Utah's Ashley Postell is ranked second in the all-around (39.531 average), ninth on the vault (9.88), fifth on the uneven bars (9.894) and first on the balance beam (9.910).

Nina Kim is fifth in the all-around (39.437) and Baskett is fourth on the bars (9.895).

SUU's Ariel Lamb and Katie Hicks are tied for eighth on the balance beam (9.833).

Homecoming

Baskett, who is from the Seattle area, is excited to perform in front of friends and family Friday when the Utes compete against the Huskies. However, the thought of staying close to home to compete in college wasn't enough for her to consider attending Washington.

Baskett let Washington know early in the recruiting process she wasn't interested, with her final decision being between Utah and UCLA.

"I love Washington and all my friends and family, but I knew there was so much more out there, so I didn't want to stay in Washington," Baskett said. "And I wanted to go to one of the top programs."

lwodraska@sltrib.com

A first

Sophomore Beth Rizzo's tie for the floor title Friday with a 9.825 was her first event title of her career, but not her best routine, she said Monday.

"I wasn't that happy with it, there were a lot of little things I did I can improve on," she said.

So far, Utah has had seven gymnasts earn event titles this year, with Postell leading with 16, followed by Baskett (4) and Annie DiLuzio (2). Daria Bijak, Kim and Stephanie Neff have one each along with Rizzo.

Postell has 89 for her career.

A Ute has won 22 of the 25 event and all-around titles this season.

Around the nation

Oregon State picked up its fifth straight win by beating Cal 195.175-191.325. . . Florida earned its season high road score with a 196.850-190.825 win at Pittsburgh. . . After a slow start, UCLA is producing some high marks on a consistent basis, earning a 196.875 to win a meet in Chicago. . . Nebraska's Emily Parsons won three event titles Thursday to give her 101 event titles for her career.

Rankings

Team Avg. (prev. rank)

1. Georgia 196.829 (1)

2. Utah 196.775 (2)

3. Florida 196.517 (3)

4. Alabama 196.360 (4)

5. Michigan 196.295 (5)

6. LSU 195.871 (7)

7. UCLA 195.800 (9)

8. Oklahoma 195.750 (6)

9. Stanford 195.655 (11)

10. Arkansas 195.500 (10)

11. Oregon State 195.485 (8)

12. Nebraska 195.221 (12)

13. Denver 195.070 (13)

14. Missouri 194.955 (14)

15. SUU 194.942 (17)

16. Auburn 194.805 (15)

17. Arizona State 194.500 (16)

18. Penn State 194.485 (18)

19. North Carolina 194.342 (21)

20. Arizona 194.335 (20)

21. Boise State 194.281 (19)

22. Michigan State 194.155 (23)

T23. Ohio State 194.055 (22)

T23. N.C. State 194.055 (25)

25. Kent State 193.875 (NR)