BATON ROUGE — For the second straight week, LSU gymnastics found themselves among the elite. After defeating Washington, 196.550-195.175, last Friday, the Tigers stayed at No. 5 in the national rankings.
The Tigers regional qualifying score rose from 196.496 to 196.580 with one meet left before the SEC Championship.
Georgia (197.235), Utah (197.030), Florida (196.915), Michigan (196.825), LSU, and Alabama (196.420) held the top six spots for the second straight week.
Stanford (196.360), Oregon State (196.355), Oklahoma (196.275) and UCLA (196.275) round out the top 10 in this week’s polls.
The Tigers placed fourth in three of the four individual events in this week’s rankings. For the third straight week, LSU placed fifth on the vault with an RQS of 49.290. This week, however, they share the distinction with Oklahoma.
The Tigers also jumped to No. 4 on the bars with a 49.225. Last week, they placed fifth. Additionally, they moved up one spot to No. 4 on the floor with a 49.325.
LSU is also ranked No. 10 on the beam with an RQS of 49.005.
Individually, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney held her ground at No. 2 in the all-around this week with an RQS of 39.520. Against Washington, she scored a career-high 9.950 on the bars. She also jumped five spots on the bars, tying for No. 7 with a 9.885.
Clare-Kearney fell one spot to No. 2 on the vault with a 9.950. She also slipped one spot on the floor, coming in at No. 6 with a 9.915. The junior from Manchester, Conn. is also tied with teammate Kristi Esposito and three others at No. 17 on the beam with an average of 9.860.
Susan Jackson fell in the all-around rankings to No. 14 with a 39.305. The junior from Spring, Texas did not even compete in the all-around against Washington last Friday, but did score an outstanding 9.975 on the floor, taking home the event title. That score propelled her from No. 11 to No. 5 on the floor with an RQS of 9.920. Additionally, she is tied for No. 14 on the vault with a 9.885.
Freshman Nicole Lyons, who made her debut in the national polls last week, fell out of the standings on beam. She did not participate on the beam against Washington due to an injury sustained earlier in the meet.
The Tigers will compete in their final regular season competition on Friday, March 14 when they travel to Raleigh, N.C.. for a tri-meet against No. 18 North Carolina State and North Carolina. The action will begin at 6 p.m. (CT).
NCAA Gymnastics Rankings
Rank
Team Name
Team RQS
1
Georgia
197.235
2
Utah
197.030
3
Florida
196.915
4
Michigan
196.825
5
LSU
196.580
6
Alabama
196.420
7
Stanford
196.360
8
Oregon State
196.355
9
Oklahoma
196.275
10
UCLA
196.255
11
Arkansas
195.950
12
Auburn
195.905
13
Denver
195.770
14
Michigan State
195.560
15
Nebraska
195.515
16
Missouri
195.465
17
Arizona
195.400
18
North Carolina State
195.150
19
Boise State
194.995
20
Penn State
194.915
21
Iowa
194.880
22
Arizona State
194.815
23
Kentucky
194.605
24
Minnesota
194.495
25
Southern Utah
194.465