DENVER- The No. 7-ranked University of Denver women's gymnastics team, presented by Your Hometown Toyota Stores, posted a big 196.350 to win its home opener Saturday in front of a near-sell-out crowd in Hamilton Gymnasium. DU topped visiting Arizona State (193.275), Texas Woman's (192.125) and Air Force (189.900).

The Pioneers swept the individual titles and took at least a share of the top-three finishes on all events and the all-around. For the second meet in a row, freshman Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) took the all-around title with a 39.425.

Junior Nikole Addison (Fort Myers, Fla.) posted career highs on beam and floor on her way to a personal-best 39.275 in the all-around for second place. Senior Julia Ross (Henderson, Nev.) again competed in the all-around, posting a 39.200 for third place to complete DU's sweep.

"I believe we have the toughest team in the country," head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart said. "It's a true test of a team's character how you respond to adversity, and this team is excelling under it."

Denver opened the meet on vault, competing only five student-athletes. Ross led the team and the meet on the event with a 9.850, followed by Karr in second with a 9.825. Sophomore Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) matched her career high on vault with a 9.800 to tie for third on the event. Addison and Fielitz added a 9.750 and 9.600, respectively.

In the second rotation, DU moved to bars and saw freshmen Karr and Sam Ogden (Allen, Texas) go 1-2 in the final event standings, both with career highs-9.875 and 9.850, respectively. Ross tied for third overall with a 9.825. Sophomore Claire Kern's (Charlotte, N.C.) 9.800 and Addison's 9.750 were each season highs.

Denver had its strongest team showing on beam in the third rotation, posting a 49.275 with all six routines scoring at least a 9.800. Karr had the highest score of the night on beam with her new career-high 9.900. Three more Pioneers added or tied personal bests on beam as well: Schou with a 9.875, Addison with a 9.850 and Ogden with a 9.800. Ross tied with Addison with third with a 9.850, and senior Rachel Fielitz (Walden, N.Y.) added a season-best 9.800.

The Pioneers wrapped up the evening on floor with a clean sweep of the podium-after competing five-up, five count-led by Addison's career-tying 9.925 for her first collegiate event title. Freshman Courtney Loper (West Des Moines, Iowa) scored a personal-best 9.875 in the lead-off position and finished second on the night. Karr completed the 1-2-3 sweep for DU with a 9.850. Schou and Ross completed the Pioneers' line up, scoring 9.825 and 9.675, respectively.

Head coach Kutcher-Rinehart added after the meet, "As always, there continues to be room for improvement but when you're competing five-up, five-count on two events, there's pressure there. The team is not just managing the pressure, they are embracing it. When our student-athletes do return, we're going to have additional momentum, experience and toughness. It was an improvement over last week, and that's the mark of a great team.

"They're not just surviving. They're thriving and showing confidence and consistency."

DU's next four meets are on the road, beginning with a visit to Utah on Friday, January 20, against Boise State and Illinois-Chicago. The Pioneers will return to Denver on Saturday, February 11, against Boise State in Hamilton Gymnasium at 6 p.m. Single-meet tickets are just $9-and $6 for groups of 20 or more-and can be purchased online, at the Ritchie Center Box Office or by calling 303-871-2336.

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