BATON ROUGE — Coming off back-to-back NCAA Super Six appearances, the LSU gymnastics team earned its highest preseason ranking since 1998 as the Tigers checked in at No. 6 in the 2010 preseason coaches poll released by GymInfo Wednesday.
LSU received 576 points to earn the sixth spot.
The Tigers return eight letterwinners to the squad including four senior All-Americans in Sabrina Franceschelli, Summer Hubbard, Susan Jackson and Kayla Rogers.
Last season LSU earned its second-straight appearance in the Super Six and finished the season ranked sixth.
Georgia earned the top spot in the poll with 739 points including 13 of 31 first place votes. Utah was ranked No. 2 with 718 points and six first place votes. Alabama was third with 680 points and eight first place votes while Florida was fourth with 676 points and two first place votes. UCLA rounded out the top five with 632 points and two first place votes.
Stanford followed LSU at No. 7 with 563 points while Arkansas checked in at No. 8 with 537 points. Oklahoma (516 points) and Oregon State (503) rounded out the top 10.
The Southeastern Conference was well represented as Auburn was ranked 14th and Kentucky was receiving votes.
LSU was ranked in the top 10 of the preseason poll for the eighth-straight year dating back to 2003 and the 12th time in the last 13 years dating back to 1998.
The No. 6 ranking is the highest preseason mark for the Tigers since GymInfo started releasing preseason rankings in 1998, edging out the 2006 and 2009 teams that opened the year ranked seventh.
LSU will open the season Jan. 8 at home against Maryland, and season tickets are on sale now. Tiger fans can purchase season tickets by calling the LSU Athletics Ticket Office at (225) 578-2184 or by logging on to www.LSUsports.net/tickets.
2010 Gymnastics Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Team Points (First Place Votes)
1. Georgia 739 (13)
2. Utah 718 (6)
3. Alabama 680 (8)
4. Florida 676 (2)
5. UCLA 632 (2)
6. LSU 576
7. Stanford 563
8. Arkansas 537
9. Oklahoma 516
10. Oregon State 503
11. Penn State 493
12. Michigan 421
13. Illinois 369
14. Auburn 365
15. Nebraska 364
16. Missouri 349
17. Denver 215
18. Ohio State 200
19. Boise State 194
20. Arizona 169
21. West Virginia 122
22. Minnesota 120
23. Iowa State 107
24. Michigan St. 76
25. Washington 64