No. 4 Alabama Set for Top-Five Showdown to Open SEC Competition

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 4 Alabama gymnastics team will host the No. 3 Missouri Tigers Friday night in Coleman Coliseum. The top-five contest will begin at 6 p.m. CT and will be aired live on SEC Network.

Friday night's meet will be the second contest for Alabama as the Crimson Tide is coming off a strong performance at last week's Super 16 Gymnastics Championships. Alabama downed three top-20 ranked opponents in then-No. 5 UCLA, then-No. 7 Cal and then-No. 17 Auburn to claim the session's victory via a 197.125 team score.

Friday's meet is also Big Al's Birthday with the first 1,000 fans receiving a Big Al keychain. Appearances from Big Al's friends will join the celebration on the concourse during pre-meet, including mascots from major sports teams within the region.

Head Coach Ashley Johnston Said

"I'm really proud of our team and the work they're putting in. We intentionally scheduled a really competitive matchup [last weekend] to be prepared to compete at the highest of levels and against the toughest of opponents. Friday night is no different - Missouri is a really strong team. They've been on the rise for a few years now and have really made their mark as national contenders. It's going to be a big night and we cannot wait to be back in front of our fans."

Friday's Meet

Alabama is led by Ashley Johnston in her second season as UA's head coach, while Shannon Welker is in his 11th year at the helm of the Tigers
The two teams last competed against each other in Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 25, 2022, with UA taking home a 197.500 - 196.775 win
Both programs are coming off quad-meet victories with Alabama winning its Super 16 session via a 197.125 score and Missouri taking home a win of its own, the Mizzou Invitational, via a 197.150 score

Last Time Out

Alabama's score of 197.125 is its second-highest score for a season opener in program history (197.150 vs. Missouri on Jan. 10, 2014)
At least one Crimson Tide gymnast finished in the top three of all four events, totaling rotation scores of 49.250 on floor exercise, 49.275 on vault, 49.525 on bars and 49.075 on balance beam
The Tide totaled seven scores of 9.900 or higher on the night, with Gabby Gladieux on floor exercise (9.975), Shania Adams on balance beam (9.900), Luisa Blanco on both uneven bars (9.950) and vault (9.900), Cameron Machado (9.925) and Chloe LaCoursiere (9.900) on bars and Karis German on vault (9.900)
Gladieux's career-high on floor exercise (9.975) helped earn her the Southeastern Conference Specialist of the Week (Jan. 9)

The Tide in the Rankings

No. 4 Alabama holds top-10 national rankings on the uneven bars (No. 4), vault (No. 6), floor exercise (No. 8) and balance beam (No. 9), while simultaneously leading the SEC on bars, ranking third on floor and fourth on balance beam
Individually, Gladieux leads the nation on floor exercise after her career-high score of 9.975
Blanco ranks sixth, nationally, and third in the SEC in the all-around (39.550)

Up Next

Alabama will return to Coleman Coliseum Friday, Jan. 12, for a matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks at 6:30 p.m. CT
The meet will be broadcast live on SEC Network

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