BATON ROUGE — After a stellar performance at Kentucky the LSU gymnastics team improved its season average to 195.400 to earn the No. 10 ranking in the latest national rankings released by GymInfo Monday.
The Tigers (6-1, 1-1 SEC) posted a season-high 196.575 against Kentucky despite the absence of junior Sabrina Franceschelli who was sick and did not travel. LSU broke the 49-point mark on all four events for the first time this season, including season highs on bars (49.300), beam (49.025) and floor (49.075). The Tigers also scored a 49.175 on vault.
As a team LSU has continued to excel on vault as the Tigers are ranked second nationally with a 49.256 season average. LSU is also ranked in the top 20 in the other three events ? 17th on beam with a 48.531 average, 14th on bars with a 48.750 average and 10th on floor with a 48.862 average.
Individually, senior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney is ranked in the top 10 on vault and bars. Clare-Kearney held strong at No. 2 nationally on vault with a 9.919 season average. Against Kentucky, Clare-Kearney scored a 9.90. On bars Clare-Kearney moved up two spots to No. 7 with a 9.881 average after delivering a 9.925 at Kentucky.
Junior Susan Jackson is also ranked in the top 10 nationally on vault as she is eighth with a 9.887 average. Jackson posted a 9.875 against Kentucky.
The Southeastern Conference continued to dominate the rankings as Georgia has assumed the top spot on the list with a 196.650 season average. Florida was No. 1 last week, but the Gators’ season average dropped so Florida checked in at No. 5 this week with a 196.142 average.
Auburn, whom LSU faces this week, is No. 6 with a 196.137 average. Three other SEC teams round out the top 10 with Arkansas at No. 8 (196.025), Alabama at No. 9 (195.925) and LSU at No. 10.
LSU will travel to face Auburn (2-2, 0-1) for a top 10 match-up Friday at 7 p.m. CST.
GymInfo Top 25 ? January 26, 2009
Rank Team Season Average
1. Georgia 196.650
2. Utah 196.583
3. UCLA 196.544
4. Stanford 196.275
5. Florida 196.142
6. Auburn 196.137
7. Oklahoma 196.125
8. Arkansas 196.025
9. Alabama 195.925
10. LSU 195.400
11. Oregon State 195.381
12. Nebraska 195.142
13. Missouri 194.842
14. Ohio State 194.742
15. Illinois-Champaign 194.617
16. Arizona State 194.537
17. Penn State 194.533
18. Iowa State 194.392
19. West Virginia 194.183
20. Michigan 194.181
21. Minnesota 194.108
22. Denver 194.019
23. Northern Illinois 193.900
24. Arizona 193.833
25. Boise State 193.800