When Kim Thrasher tied the school vault record last season with a 9.70, her lay-out Tsuk was worth a 9.90. This year, however, rule changes have caused the vault to be rated only a 9.70.

If Thrasher uses the same vault, she must perform it perfectly to achieve the same score.

So to increase her scoring ability, Thrasher is working on adding a full twist to the vault, called a lay-out Tsuk full, worth a 10.00.

"I think it's an inspiration for me to learn the lay-out Tsuk full because I want to stay up there in the best on our team because we have so many good vaulters this year," she said.

Every few years the values of vaults are re-evaluated. Accordingly, the gymnasts need to reevaluate their vaults.

"Allison (Barber) and Lisa (Mallios) both have harder vaults up their sleeves than they've been working on," Coach Judi Avener said. "But, we just kind of have been saving them until we need them."

Paula Bright's reason for working on a new vault worth 9.90 points, replacing one worth only a 9.40, was similar.

"I really wanted to find a spot on the vaulting team," Bright said. "By getting a more difficult vault, that would keep me in the lineup."

Allison Barber, Lisa Mallios and Thrasher all train on other events besides vault, but are working on different vaults or additional difficulties to improve their vaulting scores. Usually more difficult vaults are given a higher rating, raising the vaulter's chances of scoring higher.

Carrie Arnesen competes primarily on vault this year, competing a full on, full off vault and has improved her highest score to a 9.65.

Barber started working on a new vault called a cuervo last year because it was worth 10.00 points, .20 more than the one she had always used, a handspring front. But, both vaults were valued at 9.90 this year, so she works on both. The extra effort may be worth it, since gymnasts must perform two vaults during the NCAA finals.

"I think a cuervo still looks better because I still think it is a harder vault, at least for me," Barber said.

Mallios is also working on a more difficult vault on her favorite event. Currently, she uses a front handspring front in tuck position, which has a value of 9.90 and is the vault she scored all three of her 9.70's with. When she scored the 9.85 at UCLA, she came with .05 of a perfect vault.

She is working on the same vault in pike position, with a value of 10.00.