Generally, setting records in a competition results in a victory, however, this was not the case for the ISU gymnastics team Saturday night.

Despite recording numerous season-high and career-high scores, the Redbirds tasted defeat for the second time in four dual meets this season, falling to Michigan State, 194.4-193.625, in the sixth annual Jan Howard Memorial Flip for the Cure Meet at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Mich., in nonconference action.

The new season-high overall team score is 193.625 for the Redbirds.

“It is always great to score a season-high, and I was really happy to see the improvement we were hoping for,” ISU head coach Bob Conkling said.

The team also earned season-high scores for three events including uneven bars with 48.575, balance beam with 48.45, and floor exercise with 48.4. ISU also scored 48.2 on the vault.

MSU also tallied season-high scores on the uneven bars (48.975), balance beam (47.65), and floor exercise (48.975) and scored 48.8 on the vault to account for its 194.4 overall score.

ISU freshman Sami King narrowly missed out on winning the all-around event for the fourth consecutive meet, as she finished second with a score of 38.65, which was .025 points short of all-around winner MSU sophomore Dani Levy’s 38.675 score.

Melissa Mamroth / Daily Vidette Senior Staff: ISU sophomore Elise Gray tied for third on the vault with a score of 9.75, but the Redbirds were unable to overcome Michigan State at the Jan Howard Memorial Flip for the Cure Meet in East Lansing, Mich., this past weekend.

ISU sophomore Elise Gray tied for third with MSU senior Daneen Haba on the vault with a score of 9.75. 

Two Spartans found themselves atop the vault results leader board. University High School graduate Taira Neal (9.85) placed first on the vault, while freshman Ashley Noll (9.775) finished second in the event.

MSU also took the top-two spots on the uneven bars with career-high scores from both gymnasts. Levy led the way with a score of 9.875 and senior Jackie Berg came in second with a score of 9.825.

ISU junior Kim Genereux tied for third on the uneven bars with Spartans Ashley Stevenson and Neal, scoring 9.775.

Two Redbirds earned career-high scores on the balance beam, as senior Melissa Mann placed first on the balance beam with a score of 9.825, while junior Tori Sarantakis finished third with 9.725 points. MSU sophomore Sarena Bumbarger earned a second-place finish on the team with a score of 9.775.

MSU also earned the top four spots on the floor exercise. Levy (9.85) took first, Noll (9.825) finished second, and Berg and Alyssa Brennan (9.775) tied for third-place honors. ISU junior Marissa Stom was the best ISU performer on the floor exercise, tying for fifth with MSU’s Bumbarger with a score of 9.75.

“The team did very well tonight,” Conkling said. “Everyone had strong performances. And as a coach, I know the team is capable of more.”

ISU resumes action Feb. 3 at Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti, Mich., at 7 p.m.