BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU gymnastics team is ranked No. 10 in Women’s Gymnastics Preseason Coaches Poll, it was announced today. The Tigers, who finished 10th at the NCAA Championships last season, received 553 points in the poll.
“That’s where we ended the year and that’s where we’ll start the year,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “I believe we have the potential to move up from that ranking because I think we are a better team then that. But to begin the season, I think it’s a very comfortable place to be.”
Defending national champion UCLA topped the preseason poll with 938 points and 27 first place votes. The Bruins were followed by Georgia, with 895 points and eight first place votes, and Alabama (864), Utah (794), and Michigan (758), who all received one first place vote.
LSU’s 2004 schedule will once again be a tough one as six of the Tigers’ opponents rank among the preseason top 25, including three in the top 10. Following Georgia and Alabama other ranked opponents include No. 7 Florida, No. 14 Auburn, No. 17 Arizona and No. 23 Ohio State.
The Tigers begin the 2004 campaign Friday, Jan. 9, when they travel to East Lansing, Mich., for a quad meet with Michigan State, Arizona and Western Michigan.
2004 Women’s Gymnastics Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Team Points No. 1 Votes
1. UCLA 938 (27)
2. Georgia 895 (8)
3. Alabama 864 (1)
4. Utah 794 (1)
5. Michigan 758 (1)
6. Stanford 751
t7. Florida 700
t7. Nebraska 700
9. Arizona State 628
10. LSU 553
11. Oregon State 447
12. Iowa 444
13. Oklahoma 402
14. Auburn 372
15. Washington 370
16. Iowa State 348
17. Arizona 290
18. Denver 287
19. Penn State 259
20. North Carolina 254
21. California 157
22. Minnesota 129
23. Ohio State 128
24. BYU 110
25. Missouri 100