BATON ROUGE – LSU gymnastics is set for another Top-10 showdown this week when the sixth-ranked Tigers play host to No. 8 Arkansas Friday in the Maravich Center.
Introductions begin at 7:15 p.m. CT, and first vault is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase starting as low as $2 by visiting www.LSUtix.net, calling the LSU Ticket Office at 225-578-2184 or in person on the first floor of the LSU Athletic Administration Building.
Doors to the Maravich Center will open at 6 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early and have fun at the Mardi Gras Meet.
Beads and t-shirts will be thrown between rotations at the meet, and Mardi Gras music will be played throughout the competition. LSU will wear special Mardi Gras-themed leotards as well.
“We want people to come out, bring their kids and enjoy this meet as a family event,” LSU head coach D-D Breaux said. “Get there at 7:15 because that’s when the show starts, and we want people to come on out and enjoy the show.”
LSU (6-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) will attempt to extend its win streak at home to 19 against an Arkansas squad that has already beaten No. 4 Alabama and No. 10 Auburn this season.
The Razorbacks enter the meet at 3-3 overall and 1-1 against SEC competition.
LSU continues to use a balanced lineup each week as the Tigers are one of the nation’s leaders with nine gymnasts ranked in the Top 25 in at least one event, including Ashleigh Gnat who ranks No. 1 nationally on vault after back-to-back perfect 10.0 scores in the event.
“We’re getting a lot of scores from some young kids, and we’re really excited about what we’re getting out of everyone,” Breaux said. “We have worked hard this week to make improvements and get better, so we just have to go out, have fun and compete with reckless abandon.”
Erin Macadaeg ranks No. 1 nationally on floor after her 9.95 earlier this season, while Sydney Ewing is No. 2 on vault, Lexie Priessman is No. 6 on bars, Myia Hambrick is No. 8 in the all-around, Sarah Finnegan is No. 14 on floor, Shae Zamardi is No. 22 on bars, Randii Wyrick is No. 23 on floor and Julianna Cannamela is No. 24 on vault.
As a team LSU is No. 1 nationally on vault, No. 5 on floor, No. 10 on bars and No. 18 on beam. Arkansas is No. 7 on vault, No. 10 on floor, No. 11 on beam and No. 14 on bars.
The Razorbacks are led by junior Amanda Wellick who ranks just outside the Top 25 in the all-around, and she is No. 8 on vault. Senior Sydnie Dillard is ranked 17th on beam.
SEC Network will broadcast the meet with Melissa Lee (play-by-play), Courtney Kupets Carter (analyst) and Kayce Smith (reporter) calling the action.
Live stats of the meet will be available at LSUsports.net, and fans can also follow along on the LSU gymnastics social media channels: @LSUgym on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, www.Facebook.com/lsugym and www.YouTube.com/lsugymnastics.