TOWSON, Md. - Senior Kacy Catanzaro won the all-around competition with a 38.90 score and also took first place on vault, bars and beam as she led the Tigers (6-0) to a sweep of a tri-meet against Alaska and William and Mary in the Tigers' home opener in the Towson Center on Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers earned a 193.000 team score to win the meet. Alaska was second with a 187.875 score while William and Mary took third place with a 184.900 score.

Towson has not lost a meet at home since March 21, 2008.

Catanzaro, who became the 43rd gymnast in Towson history to score 1,000 points, gave the Tigers an early lead when she won the vault competition with a career best 9.875 score. The Tigers, who had a 48.60 team score on vault, took the top four places on vault as senior Avis Hixon finished second with a 9.75 while junior Britney Russell and senior Lindsay Poplaski tied for third place with 9.70 scores.

“It was great to see Kacy do so well on vault,” said Towson Coach Vicki Chliszczyk. “Last week, she had a mishap on vault. But, she bounced back and came up with a huge vault, setting her career high. Her vault score was huge for Kacy and it really gave our team a lift.”

On bars, Catanzaro came up with another career high performance as she earned a 9.825 score to finish first. Freshman Sariaye Jensen of Alaska was second with a 9.75 score while freshman Samantha Lutz of Towson tied for third place with a 9.675 score, the best score of her young career. Poplaski also tied for third on bars with a 9.675 score.

On the balance beam, Catanzaro led the Tigers to a sweep of the top three spots as she won the event with a 9.75 score. Ross took second place with a 9.575 while Poplaski was third (9.55).

The Tigers clinched the victory on floor exercise with a 48.625 team score. Despite competing with only five gymnasts in the floor lineup, the Tigers claimed the top three spots. Hixon tied her career high with a 9.85 to finish first. Poplaski earned a career high 9.80 floor score to finish second. Russell also tied her for second place with a 9.80 score. Lutz finished sixth on floor with a career best 9.725. Catanzaro had a problem on floor and had a 9.45 score.

“It's too bad that Kacy struggled on floor,” said Chliszczyk. “Otherwise, she would have had a tremendous all-around score.”

Catanzaro won the fourth all-around title of her career and the first since her freshman year with a 38.90. She barely edged out Poplaski, who took second place with a career best 38.725 score. Melissa Doucette of Alaska was third with a 38.40 score.

The Tigers made a nearly-three point improvement over their score in the opening week when they had a 190.300.

Chliszczyk said, “This was a much better performance. We made a lot of progress, especially on beam. Plus, our freshmen were much calmer this week.”

The Tiger return to action next Sunday afternoon when they visit West Virginia University for a tri-meet with the Mountaineers and George Washington University.

COLLEGE GYMNASTICS:  1. Towson 193.000;  2. Alaska 187.875;  3. William and Mary 184.900.

VAULT:  1. Kacy Catanzaro (TOW), 9.875;  2. Avis Hixon (TOW), 9.725; 3. Britney Russell (TOW), 9.70;  Lindsay Poplaski (TOW), 9.70.

BARS:  1. Kacy Catanzaro (TOW), 9.825; 2. Sariaye Jensen (ALA), 9.75; Samantha Lutz (TOW), 9.675;  Lindsay Poplaski (TOW), 9.675.

BEAM:  1. Kacy Catanzaro (TOW), 9.75; 2. Lauren Ross (TOW), 9.575; 3. Lindsay Poplaski (TOW), 9.55.

FLOOR:  1. Avis Hixon (TOW), 9.85;  2. Britney Russell (TOW), 9.80;  Lindsay Poplaski (TOW), 9.80; 

ALL-AROUND:  1. Kacy Catanzaro (TOW), 38.90; 2. Lindsay Poplaski (TOW), 38.725;  3. Melissa Doucette (ALA), 38.40.