BATON ROUGE — LSU’s 13th-ranked gymnastics team returns to action this Friday when it welcomes No. 2 Georgia to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for a 7 p.m. dual meet.
“We are really looking forward to this meet,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “It’s a great rivalry between two teams that have a tremendous amount of respect for each other.”
Georgia, the two-time defending SEC and NCAA champions, have compiled a 6-0-1 overall record and a 2-0-1 slate in SEC action this season. They are coming off a tie against top-ranked Florida a week ago, a meet that saw both teams post identical 197.250s.
LSU (5-3, 1-0 SEC) will attempt to remain undefeated in the conference action against the Gym Dogs. The Tigers are coming off their most successful outing to date as they defeated Arkansas with a season-high 196.500 effort last Friday.
Breaux believes it will take a near flawless performance to upend a talented Georgia team.
“We need people that have had some spot duties in the lineup to step up and give superlative performances,” said Breaux. “We had a great meet last week, but I felt like we gave away some tenths in execution. If we can clean those things up and stay focused and disciplined on the task at hand I think this will be a very even competition.”
Breaux will lean on her three seasoned all-arounders — junior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney and seniors Kelly Phelan and Nicki Butler — to help pace the squad against the Gym Dogs.
The trio swept the top-three all-around spots against the Gym’Backs last week as all posted scores of 39.275 or higher.
Juniors Kristi Esposito and Emily Ellis will also be looked at to contribute several solid performances. Esposito could again see action on the bars, beam and floor, while Ellis, who is ranked nationally on the vault along with Clare-Kearney, Butler and Phelan, will be counted on in that event as well as the floor.
Fans unable to attend Friday’s meet can catch a tape delay broadcast of the competition on ESPN2, Sunday, Feb. 18 at noon (CT).