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Two weeks ago Utah gymnastics coach Megan Marsden wasn't sure how she was going to replace standout Kari Lee in the balance beam lineup when she suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear.

Well, it looks like she has found her answers.

While the Utes would love to have Lee in the lineup, her teammates are doing well enough that beam isn't the worry the Utes thought it might be.

The sixth-ranked Utes, who host Washington on Saturday at 7 p.m., have had two solid meets on the event since Lee suffered the injury.

Utah scored a 49.025 at home against Arizona and a 49.35 on the beam in Saturday's narrow 197.1-197.075 loss at UCLA. The Utes had five scores of 9.85 or better, but couldn't hold off the Bruins, who posted a 49.6 on floor to win.

"I've had some teams that have gone into meltdown mode in that situation," Marsden said. "That didn't happen with this team and we fought to the last routine. It could have gone another way and to be in a fight like that to the end with a young team is really encouraging."

Utah's beam rotation seems to be set with Samantha Partyka locking down the leadoff spot. She earned a 9.75 against Arizona and a 9.875 at UCLA. The rest of the lineup — Breanna Hughes, Kassandra Lopez, Kailah Delaney, Baely Rowe and Maddy Stover — is good enough that freshman MaKenna Merrell has been squeezed out of the lineup even though she is a solid beam worker.

"Right now we are feeling really good about having our veterans in there because they aren't shaking in their boots at all," Marsden said. "MaKenna is starting to really show us what she can do in exhibitions, but her shots are probably going to come more next year, but it's good to know we have someone waiting in the wings."

Out but not down

Marsden said Lee is doing well after her recent surgery and her recovery is on track.

"We've gotten darn good at this," said Marsden, referring to the other gymnasts who suffered the same injury recently. "Hopefully she is going to come back quickly. There is a lot of things she can work on in the meantime like nutrition, mental toughness, sports psychology — all of those things are going to make her stronger."

Lee traveled to UCLA with her teammates and has embraced the role of being a mentor to her teammates, Marsden said.

"She is a good spirit and she is doing nothing but helping the team," Marsden said. "She has always had different rituals or things she does with her teammates, now she is just having to crutch over there to do it."

In the rankings

Even though the Utes lost to the Bruins, the road score gave them a better average and they were able to move up one spot to No. 6, ahead of the Bruins, with a 196.65 average. Oklahoma is the top-ranked team with a 197.393 average.

The Utes are ranked ninth on the vault (49.11), third on the bars (49.3), fourth on the beam (49.15) and 12th on the floor (49.09).

Rowe is ranked third on the bars (9.91) and Lopez is sixth (9.9). Breanna Hughes is seventh in the all-around (39.413) and Partyka is 11th (39.375). Sabrina Schwab is 10th on the floor (9.915). —

Washington at No. 6 Utah

P Saturday, 7 p.m.

TV • Pac-12 Networks

Top 25

1. Oklahoma 197.393

2. Florida 197.22

3. Michigan 196.86

4. Alabama 196.842

5. LSU 196.705

6. Utah 196.65

7. UCLA 196.51

8. Auburn 196.204

9. Arkansas 196.2

10. Boise St. 196.194

11. Georgia 195.958

12. Denver 195.945

13. Stanford 195.856

14. Nebraska 195.83

15. Missouri 195.808

16. Oregon St. 195.694

17. G. Washington 195.656

18. Minnesota 195.53

19. California 195.456

20. Illinois 195.29

21. SUU 195.185

22. N. Hampshire 195.171

23. Ohio St. 195.165

24. West Virginia 195.14

25. Kentucky 195.13