Alabama
Arkansas
No. 8 Alabama Gymnastics Faces No. 22 Arkansas Friday in Fayetteville
2/7/2019 1:46:00 PM | Gymnastics
It will be the Crimson Tide’s sixth meet of the season, second road meet in a row and third away contest overall
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The No. 8-ranked Alabama gymnastics team heads back out on the road this week, taking on No. 22 Arkansas in Barnhill Arena at Fayetteville, Ark., Friday night.
"There are no nights off in the SEC," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "You have to be ready every time out, but I think that's what makes this conference so great when it comes to the postseason. Everyone in this league has been tested by the time we get to March and April."
The meet gets underway at 7Â p.m. and will be streamed live on the SEC Network+ via WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app. The Crimson Tide comes into the meet in the midst of a run of eight meets in a row against Southeastern Conference competition.
Friday marks Alabama's third road contest and sixth meet overall of the season, while it will be Arkansas' second home competition of the season and first since Jan. 5, and its fifth meet overall.
In addition to being another SEC competition, both teams will be trading their traditional team colors for pink leotards on Friday, helping bring attention to the fight against breast cancer. Alabama's Power of Pink initiative began collegiate gymnastics' "pink" efforts in 2004.
"This team knows that when it comes to 'pink' meets, we're competing for something larger than ourselves," Duckworth said. "To know that we're using our platform to honor the survivors, those who are fighting now and those who lost their fight, is very powerful."
Alabama was without a key gymnast in each of the last two meets. Sophomore Lexi Graber missed the LSU meet two weeks ago after an injury in warmups, while senior Abby Armbrecht didn't travel to Missouri due to an illness that cropped the day the team traveled to Columbia. Both are slated to be back in the lineup this week.
Graber bounced back against Missouri going in the all-around and scoring a career-best 9.925 on the floor exercise. Sophomore Alonza Klopfer used a career-best mark of her own to win the balance beam against the Tigers, posting a 9.875 in the leadoff position.
"I love being in the role I'm in," Klopfer said. "This year IÂ really wanted to make it where I'm competing for my teammates. Whatever is best for my team, that's what I want to do."
After back-to-back road meets, Alabama returns to Coleman Coliseum on Friday, Feb. 15, against the Florida Gators at 7:30 p.m., in UA's annual Power of Pink meet. The Tide's 2019 match-up with the Gators will mark the 15th annual Power of Pink meet in Coleman Coliseum. Tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262), located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum, and online at RollTide.com.
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and head coach Dana Duckworth on Twitter and Instagram at @UACoachDana.
Players Mentioned
