In the women's gymnastics team's second place finish (186.75) at Cal State-Fullerton Friday night, the vaulting team took the spotlight again as it shattered the school record for the third time this season by scoring a high of 47.95.

Competing as the last two Lady Lions on the vault, both Allison Barber and Lisa Mallios took a hop on their first vault, but then stuck on their second try, scoring a 9.7 and 9.75, respectively.

The record-breaking success came at the end of a three-meet week starting with the team's third place (187.00) at the UCLA Invitational on Feb. 24. Although the Lady Lions (10-6) fell to both UCLA (191.35) and Cal State-Fullerton (187.95), they recorded a season high, improving by .65.

"We're probably a better team than when we left," sophomore Kim Thrasher said.

At that first meet, Lady Lion Lisa Mallios broke the school vault record with a 9.85, right after Barber's 9.8 record performance. The 9.7 record was previously held by Mallios, Barber and Thrasher.

"I think they're (Mallios and Barber) two of the strongest vaulters in the country," Coach Judi Avener said. "I knew they were capable of doing it."

The team returned to action two days later, against No. 1 Utah and placed third (185.95) again. Penn State defeated Iowa State (181.75) and followed Brigham Young (188.15) and Utah (193.3).

"I think we went out there determined to learn from what we saw," Avener said. " They (the gymnasts) compared themselves to Utah and decided to work harder."

The hard work showed as the team beat both Stanford (185.10) and Boise State (182.75), but suffered a loss to Cal State-Fullerton (189.15) for the second time in Friday's meet.

"I think it was a very successful trip for us," Avener said. "We had a lot of positive things happen and I think it was a great learning experience. The only negative thing was that we didn't do as well on balance beam."

The balance beam proved to be the team's biggest challenge in which it could not overcome in all of its meets.

"They're good on beam, they've just got to hit (their routines)," assistant coach Steve Shephard said.

In their last meet, the Lady Lions only hit two of their six beam routines. The three-meet week and three hard workouts throughout the week caught up with the team by then on the floor exercise, as well. Only one of six gymnasts successfully competed her routine on floor.

"Fatigue really showed up on floor," Shephard said.

Thrasher added that, by the end of the week, the team was tired both physically and mentally.

Despite the fast-paced week, both of the team's top all-arounders -- Thrasher and Barber -- competed in all four events in the three meets.

"They both held up really well," Avener said. "It's very difficult to do that (stay healthy) on the road."

Not only did she remain healthy, but Barber matched the second-best all-around Penn State score with a 38.30 high and second-place at the UCLA Invite. Thrasher competed her peak performance in Friday's meet, capturing third and her personal best in the all-around with a 38.00.

"I was really pleased with that especially because I did it at the end of the trip," Thrasher said.

Although the beam proved to be the Lady Lions' trouble spot, the team turned around what used to be its weakest event-the uneven bars-into a stronger event. "Bars is no longer a weakness," Avener said.

Kira Rohm tied the school record, held by teammate Lynn Crane, when she earned a 9.75 and second place on the uneven bars at the UCLA Invite. In Friday's meet, Penn State achieved its season-high team score (47.40) on bars. Sophomore Jada Hiltabrand led the team on bars when she stuck to her dismount and scored a 9.5, on a routine worth a 9.8. Over the week, both Barber and Thrasher topped their highest career scores with 9.55s on their bar routines.

Other career highs made in the week came to Barber (9.55), Thrasher (9.65) and Janice Rogers (9.50) on floor and to Carrie Arnesen when she captured second place with a 9.65 score at Utah.