The message from coaches and players was clear: Nerves ruled in the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships preliminary competition Thursday.
They expect the team finals to be much different.
The top two seeds, UCLA and Florida, faltered early before rallying late to seal berths in Friday in the Super Six. The Bruins (196.875), fifth-seeded Utah (196.625) and fourth-seeded Oklahoma (196.55) advanced from the afternoon session. Third-seeded Alabama (196.85) won the evening session, and host Florida (196.775) and sixth-seeded Stanford (196.3) also advanced to the finals.
UCLA was led by its three all-around competitors - Vanessa Zamarripa (39.425), Anna Li (39.375) and Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs (39.35) - all of whom placed in the top seven overall during the afternoon session.