No. 9 Alabama Gymnastics Hosts No. 8 LSU in Top-10 Matchup Friday Night in Coleman Coliseum

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 9 Alabama gymnastics team will host the No. 8 LSU Tigers Friday Night in Coleman Coliseum. The contest will begin at 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SEC Network+.

The Crimson Tide comes into Friday's meet 6-3 this season and 4-2 against conference opponents, while the Tigers are 3-5 overall and 3-3 in conference meets. Alabama and LSU are two of just six teams in the nation to have reached the 198 mark in a meet this season, with Alabama scoring a 198.000 at the Metroplex Challenge on Feb. 11 and the Tigers scoring a 198.100 at home against the Auburn Tigers this past Friday.

Friday's meet is Alumni Appreciation Night and also celebrates 50 years of Title IX. Crimson Tide alumni will be recognized pre-meet, celebrating the rich legacy of Alabama gymnastics. There will be giveaways of Title IX beanies, rally towels and scrunchies on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Head Coach Ashley Johnston said

"It's going to be a great matchup this Friday, and I'm really excited to get back in front of our home crowd. Our team has continued to build and we've progressed well. It's all about the details now and developing our depth. I'm excited to get back out there in Coleman and really perform."

Friday's Meet

The Crimson Tide is 6-3 overall and 2-1 inside of Coleman Coliseum this year, with UA's most recent home meet a win over the then-No. 6 Auburn Tigers on Feb. 3
Alabama is led by Ashley Johnston, in her first season as UA's head coach, while Jay Clark is in his third year at the helm of the Tigers
The two teams last competed against each other in Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 19, 2021, with Alabama taking home a 197.725-197.325 win
Both teams are coming off of a win over a conference opponent last Friday, with UA defeating Georgia on the road and LSU earning a win over Florida at home

Last Time Out

The No. 9 Alabama gymnastics team defeated No. 19 Georgia, 197.525-197.325, Friday Night in Stegeman Coliseum
Alabama has now scored a 197-or-higher each of its last four meets
Luisa Blanco earned the all-around title as well as event titles on uneven bars (9.950), balance beam (9.950) and floor exercise (9.950)
The senior's 39.750 in the all-around ties her season-best
Shallon Olsen won the vault, tying her career-high with a 9.950, earning her first event title of the year
Ella Burgess tied her career-best with a 9.950 on the balance beam in the leadoff position, tying Blanco for the event title
Alabama has now scored 49.475-or-higher in three consecutive meets on floor exercise, with no score under 49.000 this season
Freshman Gabby Gladieux scored a 9.900 on floor, and has scored a 9.9-or-higher in each of her last five routines on the event
The Crimson Tide posted 10 scores of 9.900-or-higher in the meet, with Lilly Hudson (9.900), Olsen (9.950) and Blanco (9.900) on the vault, Doggette (9.900) and Blanco (9.900) on the uneven bars, Burgess (9.950) and Blanco (9.950) on the balance beam, and Mati Waligora (9.900), Gladieux (9.900) and Blanco (9.950) on the floor exercise

Up Next

After Friday's meet against the Tigers, Alabama heads back out on the road to Columbia, Mo., to compete against the Missouri Tigers on Friday, Mar. 3 at 6 p.m. CT
The meet will be broadcast live on SEC Network+
Following the meet against Missouri, the Tide will return home to compete in the final home meet of the season against Boise State in Coleman Coliseum on Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m. CT. The meet will be Alabama's senior night.

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– UA –