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OU women's gymnastics: Takeaways from No. 1 Sooners' victory over No. 5 Utah

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Ryan Aber, Oklahoman
·4 min read

NORMAN — As Danielle Sievers ran down the vault lane, Lizzo blared from the sound system at Lloyd Noble Center.

“I’m not the girl I was or used to be,” the chorus rang out. “I might be better.”

It remains to be seen if this edition of OU’s women’s gymnastics team is going to be better than last year’s team, which brought the program’s fifth national title.

But so far, so good. Sievers got the Sooners started right, with a career-high 9.95 on the vault as OU knocked off No. 5 Utah 197.925-197.275 in the home opener Sunday night.

"The crowd was fantastic," OU coach K.J. Kindler said. "That kind of energy in the arena makes a big difference."

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It was the 65th consecutive home victory for the Sooners, who have not lost at Lloyd Noble Center since 2014.

Here are three other takeaways from the Sooners’ home-opening victory:

More:Want to know how OU women's gymnastics has become a juggernaut? It starts on balance beam.

OklahomaÕs Jordan Bowers celebrates after competing in the vault against Utah at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023.
OklahomaÕs Jordan Bowers celebrates after competing in the vault against Utah at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023.

Honoring champions

The last time the Sooners were on the floor with Utah was last April in Fort Worth, when OU came back from being in last place after the first rotation to beat not only the Red Rocks but Florida and Auburn to win the championship.

Before Sunday’s meet, the Sooners’ national title banner was unveiled as gold streamers floated down from the Lloyd Noble Center rafters.

Also during the meet, a large group of OU women’s gymnastics alumni were honored.

More:Tramel: Maybe the time has come for OU football to enter the SEC sooner than later

Vault gets the Sooners going

The day before OU took on the Red Rocks, Sooners assistant Lou Ball pulled the trigger on a change in the vault lineup, moving Danielle Sievers to the leadoff spot and placing Allie Stern third.

Stern and Sievers had an idea the switch was coming during Saturday's practice, but it wasn't until that night that Kindler and Ball told them they'd change spots.

Kindler and Ball began talking about the move during the Jan. 16 win at LSU.

The move paid dividends immediately.

Sievers set the tone from the beginning, and Stern soon followed with a season-high 9.975. Then Jordan Bowers posted a 9.95 and Katherine LeVasseur a 9.925.