Cleveland • Stephanie McAllister and Corrie Lothrop said they performed their best Friday to help the Utes advance to the Super Six.
However, they didn't do too poorly for themselves, either.
McAllister finished 10th in the all-around with a 39.325 and Lothrop finished 12th with a 39.25.
The all-around title was won by Michigan's Kylee Botterman with a 39.525.
Lothrop in particular was happy with her performance since she spent the second half of the season nursing an injured ankle.
"I'm finally competing back to how I can," she said.
McAllister's score was a personal best and reflects the hard work she has done for the Utes this year, coach Megan Marsden said.
"Both of them have been our rocks," she said. "Steph has worked so hard since the summer and Corrie missed what I think is a critical part of the season, particularly for a freshman, but she brought her 'A' game and was really hitting floor well and sticking her vaults."
Competing again
McAllister qualified for Sunday's vault finals and freshman Mary Beth Lofgren qualified for the balance beam finals.
Lofgren, who is LDS, said she wouldn't have a problem competing on a Sunday.
"My family understands," she said. "Normally we try not to do things, but for something like that it's OK."
The team to beat? Oklahoma looks every bit like a team ready to shake its image of a rising program to be the cream of the crop after Friday's preliminary round.
The Sooners won the afternoon session with a 196.775.
The effort puts the Sooners into the Super Six for just the second time.
"I know to make it to the Super Six the first time is difficult," coach K.J. Kindler said. "But I think to make it the second time in consecutive years is bigger because you have that expectation on your shoulders. People expect you to be there. Certainly the University of Oklahoma expected us to be there so there is just a little bit more pressure."
Strong comeback
One of the best showings in the afternoon rotation was Michigan, which started with a 48.75 on the balance beam to put it in danger of missing the cut for the Super Six. However, the Wolverines got stronger through the session and almost caught Oklahoma.
The comeback advanced the Wolverines to their first Super Six since 2005 when they finished fifth.
"We told ourselves we wanted to keep building," Michigan senior Kylee Botterman said. "We had a little bit of a shaky start on beam, but we wanted to improve every event."
