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Jordan Chiles earns first perfect 10 in vault, leads UCLA to win

Jordan Chiles delivered her first career perfect 10 on the vault, helping the No. 9 UCLA women’s gymnastics team defeat Nebraska during its home opener at packed Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.

Her vault featured a double twisting Yurchenko — a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vault and a layout somersault with two full twists before landing. Given the power required to execute the somersault and twists, it is often difficult to stick the landing required to score a perfect 10. Chiles has been practicing the powerful vault throughout the preseason, coach Janelle McDonald said.

“It was so consistent,” McDonald said. “… Just the way she’s been training … and also competing the last two weeks, I felt like the stick was coming.

“… It was very special to see her nail it here today, the first meet in Pauley.”

After winning back-to-back Big Ten gymnast of the week awards, Chiles won the all-around individual title Saturday, finishing with a total of 39.675. UCLA swept the top three individual spots, with Tiana Sumanasekera and Katelyn Rosen joining Chiles.

In the team competition, the Bruins outscored the Cornhuskers 197.325-195.25.

Throughout the past week, UCLA emphasized improving the small details such as landing correctly. The team’s dismounts were nearly perfect against Nebraska, especially on the balance beam.

“I’m just proud that we were able to turn around from last week and really [show] what we really do in practice,” said Chiles, an Olympic gold medalist whose top goal this season is helping the Bruins win a national title.

UCLA's Jordan Chiles spins during her vault routine that earned a perfect 10 on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA’s Jordan Chiles earned a perfect 10 for her vault routine against Nebraska on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

UCLA started strong on the vault during their first rotation, with Sumanasekera and Rosen both scoring 9.8. Madisyn Anyimi received a mark of 9.75 with Ashlee Sullivan hitting a 9.9 right before Chiles delivered her perfect 10.

“We have such great depth on this team,” Sullivan said. “We truly have the talent, the grit, the want — everything that a dream team has.”

The team rushed Chiles to celebrate the perfect vault score that helped the Bruins take an early lead, with a team score of 49.250. Nebraska started off on the bars and trailed UCLA with a 49.05 score.

“It took me four years, finally to get a 10 on vault, and I’m just very proud of myself,” Chiles said. “And that just means I have, you know, more opportunities to really feel encouraged and feel … powerful going into everything that I need to learn.”

UCLA's Jordan Chiles celebrates after her dismount on the balance beam during a meet against Nebraska.

UCLA’s Jordan Chiles celebrates after her dismount on the balance beam during a meet against Nebraska at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

UCLA built on its lead with a team score of 49.325 on the bars after Rosen opened with a 9.85. Sumanasekera followed with a 9.825 and Mika Webster-Longin earned a 9.85 from her performance. Freshman Sullivan earned a career high 9.9 and Chiles capped the rotation with a 9.9.

The Cornhuskers totaled a 48.675 on the vault and trailed the Bruins 97.725 to 98.575.

During the third rotation, the Bruins moved to the balance beam, an event they struggled with during their third place finish in Utah last week.

Rosen and Sumanesekera were nearly perfect, each scoring 9.9. Webster-Longin earned a 9.875 before Chiles topped her best mark on the beam after receiving a 9.975. Ciena Alipio followed it with another 9.975 performance to total 49.626, extending the Bruins’ lead by 2.050 going into the last rotation of the day.

UCLA's Tiana Sumanasekera rotates high over the vault during a meet against Nebraska at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.

UCLA’s Tiana Sumanasekera rotates high over the vault during a meet against Nebraska at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

UCLA closed out the meet with the floor exercise, an event in which they placed first last week.

Rosen and Webster-Longin had rough starts, with slips during landings. Ciena, Sumanasekera and Sullivan boosted the team’s average after they earned 9.875 marks on their routines. Chiles closed out the Bruins’ win with a 9.8 on the floor.

Entering UCLA’s home opener, McDonald said her team put in extra work during practice to continue their growth. She noted that every minute of practice, the Bruins were working on improving from the previous week with intention, but she still sees room for improvement.

“I felt like we started to see a lot of the little details start to get dialed in,” she said. “I don’t feel like all of that translated yet onto the competition floor.”

McDonald said her team is getting closer to realizing its potential.

“What they’re doing in the gym is building confidence and consistency,” McDonald said. “When they are able to bring that out, it’s gonna be pretty exciting.”

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