ANAHEIM, Calif. – Facing a loaded field that included top-ranked Oklahoma and No. 4 UCLA, No. 9 California women's gymnastics opened the season with a 196.200, the best score in a season opener in school history, to take third at the Collegiate Challenge powered by Under Armour Saturday night at the Anaheim Arena.
 
Oklahoma won the session with a 197.350, while UCLA took second with a 196.575. Cal finished ahead of No. 22 Stanford, who recorded a 195.475.
 
"I was really, really proud of how the girls came out tonight and handled the environment and the noise. It's super exciting for us because this meet has become such a large meet and an exciting event, and it creates a championship atmosphere, so it's really nice for the girls to be able to come out and be able to experience that this early in the season," said co-head coach Liz Crandall-Howell. "It's a lot of pressure, and that's one of the things that we love about it. It puts them under pressure and gets them baptized by fire right at the beginning of the season and builds their confidence. It makes everything else easier from here on out."
 
Kyana George claimed the vault crown with a 9.90 -- one of three 9.90s she posted throughout the evening. The junior lineup staple tallied a 39.550 all-around, just one-tenth shy of her career-high set at last year's NCAA Regional Final. Maya Bordas made her season debut with a 39.225 all-around, and newcomer Nevaeh DeSouza finished with a 39.175 in her first outing as a Golden Bear.
 
"Nevaeh coming out in her first meet as a freshman, competing in the all-around and going over 39 in her first time out is really exciting. It's great for her, and for our future. It does a lot to show her team what a great leader she can be, and how they can rely on her in this situation," Crandall-Howell said.
 
Cal opened on beam, where the Bears posted their only sub-49.0 score of the night, combining for a 48.800 despite George's 9.90.
 
The momentum started to build on floor, where four gymnasts turned in scores of 9.80 or higher, led by George and Milan Clausi's pair of 9.85s. Bordas added a 9.825, and DeSouza earned a 9.80 to help Cal to a 49.025 team total.
 
George's 9.90 on vault highlighted a rotation that went 49.150. Clausi added a 9.85 and Bordas scored her second 9.825 of the evening. Grace Quinn, who made her competitive debut Saturday night, served as a last-minute substitution in the anchor spot and helped the lineup finish strong with a 9.80.
 
"I was encouraged by our difficulty. We weren't perfect in the difficulty that we threw, but we've added a lot and we've worked really hard to upgrade some things. Everyone competed their new difficulty tonight, which we were really proud of," Crandall-Howell said.
 
Cal saved its best for last, going 49.225 on the uneven bars. DeSouza led off with a 9.85 to help set up another 9.90 for George. Alma Kuc (9.80), Emi Watterson (9.825) and Bordas (9.85) all added to the final total, pushing the Bears above 196.0
 
"Bars is a signature event for us. We've got some of the best bar workers in the country on our team, and tonight we stuck nearly all of our landings. That aside, I thought they were supremely clean and going after the details in all of their bar routines," Crandall-Howell said.
 
Next up, the Bears head to Davis, Calif. for the NorCal Classic featuring the hosting Aggies, Stanford, San Jose State and Sacramento State. Meet time is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12
 
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with a 39.225 all-around, and newcomer Nevaeh DeSouza finished with a 39.175 in her first outing as a Golden Bear.