Falcons Travel to Alaska for Two Dual Meets
3/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 10, 2016
The Air Force women's gymnastics team closes out the regular season this weekend, as it travels to Anchorage, Alaska, for a pair of Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matching with Alaska. The Falcons and Seawolves will meet on Friday, March 11, before closing out the regular season on Sunday, March 13.
Meet Notes 10: at Alaska 
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MEET INFORMATION
Live stats will be available for both meets at GoSeawolves.com
HISTORY 101
Sunday's meet will be the 50th dual meet between Air Force and Alaska – a series that dates back to 1985. The Falcons hold a 30-18 all-time record over the Seawolves, although UAA has a 12-8 mark in meets held in Anchorage. Three of the last four meetings between the two schools have been decided by 0.575 points or less, with each team collecting a pair of victories during that span.
SO CLOSE
In a series that has been so closely contested in recent meetings, it's no wonder that just 0.045 points separate the two current teams. Air Force enters the weekend ranked 61st in the national standings with a Regional Qualifying Score of 191.545 – just one spot above Alaska, which is ranked 62nd with a 191.500 RQS.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
Alaska, which is ranked sixth in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, is coming off of a 195.225-192.250 loss to UC Davis on Feb. 28. The Seawolves' highest team score of the year was a 193.325 against Seattle Pacific on Feb. 26. Alaska is led by M'rcy Matsunami, who is currently ranked fourth in the MPSF all-around with a Regional Qualifying Score of 38.585. This is just the Seawolves' second home weekend of the year.
LOOKING AROUND THE CONFERENCE
Highlighted by a #9 ranking from Sarah Neumann, the Falcons have three gymnasts listed among the top 15 of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, based on Regional Qualifying Scores. Neumann is currently ranked ninth on the balance beam with a RQS of 9.735, while Shannen Kelly is tied for 12th with a 9.700. Kara Witgen holds a pair of top-15 rankings, as she is tied for 10th on the uneven bars (9.710) and 12th on the floor exercise (9.675). In addition, Witgen is ranked fifth in the all-around with a 38.425 RQS.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE FALCONS
Air Force and Alaska will face each other again next Saturday (March 19), when the two programs join their Mountain Pacific Sports Federation counterparts from Sacramento State, San Jose State, Seattle Pacific and UC Davis for the 2016 MPSF Championships in Sacramento.
