LAS VEGAS — The 16th-ranked LSU gymnastics team goes on the road for the first time this season to compete in the Lady Luck Invitational at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., Friday at 9 p.m. CT.
LSU (1-0) will square off against 14th-ranked Kentucky, No. 15 Missouri and Arizona State.
LSU dominated Maryland, 194.375-190.625, last week while Kentucky beat Texas Woman’s, 194.850-187.250, and Missouri defeated Ohio State, 194.725-190.650. Arizona State has not competed this season.
“We are trying to develop consistency and get more difficulty in our routines,” head coach D-D Breaux said. “Having the people out of the lineup that we have right now, the task of consistency and more difficult routines is challenging. The kids are excited and eager to compete because we know we are better than we were last week. We just want to continue to improve each week.”
Only nine Tigers will be available for the meet as redshirt sophomore Nikki Lyons injured her ankle in practice earlier in the week and was unable to travel to Las Vegas. Freshmen Kaleigh Dickson, Lainie Fleming and Ericka Garcia will also miss the meet.
LSU will once again rely on seniors Susan Jackson, Sabrina Franceschelli and Summer Hubbard in the all-around, and the team will also rely on senior Kayla Rogers who turned in a spectacular performance against Maryland with three scores of 9.80 or higher.
Junior Samantha Engle will also be counted on to provide leadership and give the Tigers a boost on bars, beam and floor.
Jackson ranks fifth nationally in the all-around after posting a 39.275 and is also third on floor with her 9.90 score, while Rogers is No. 6 on vault with a 9.875 score. As a team LSU ranks fourth on floor with the 48.975 score against Maryland.
The Tigers have dominated the all-time series against Kentucky and Missouri, leading 62-3 and 22-5, respectively, and LSU’s record against Arizona State is tied 9-9.
However, Kentucky and Missouri both jumped ahead of the Tigers in the rankings after strong opening meet scores. The Wildcats were led by junior Andrea Mitchell’s 38.800 all-around mark. Senior Hillary Ferguson scored a 9.85 on vault and 9.80 on floor, and junior Jasmine Minion posted a 9.875 on beam and 9.825 on floor to lead Kentucky.
Sophomore Mary Burke’s 39.200 all-around score led Missouri, and her all-around score tied for ninth nationally. Burke’s 9.875 on floor and senior Sarah Shire’s 9.875 on beam were the high scores for Missouri.
Arizona State figures to rely on the services of junior Beate Jones, who finished tied for 17th nationally last season on vault with a 9.895 regional qualifying score.
Tiger fans can follow the action by listening to live audio in the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net, and fans can receive score updates and other notes during the meet by following LSU gymnastics on twitter.com/lsugym.