BATON ROUGE – The LSU gymnastics program will celebrate seniors Julianna Cannamela, Sarah Finnegan, McKenna Kelley and Lexie Priessman when the squad takes on No. 15 Oregon State at 7:10 p.m. Friday for the final regular season meet inside the Maravich Center.
The fourth-ranked Tigers (9-3, 4-3) will face off against the Beavers (9-2, 4-2 Pac-12) on SEC Network + through WatchESPN.com and the app. Lynn Rollins and Kaleigh Dickson Abboud will have call. First vault for the meet is set for 7:35 p.m.
Breaux Previews Non-Conference Meet
“To be able to recognize our senior class is always special,” head coach D-D Breaux said. “These four young women though have given so much and earned success like no other senior class. It’s because of their love for LSU and the attitude they bring into competition and the gym every day. This is not the final meet for them in the PMAC though so it’s special but we still have more opportunities and more history to write.”
Finnegan One of Nation’s Best All-Around Performers
Senior Sarah Finnegan, LSU’s nominee for the AAI Award, is one of the top gymnasts in the nation. Finnegan has been dominant in the all-around with wins in nine of 10 meets. Finnegan has defeated some of the top-all-around gymnasts in the country this year with wins against No. 2 MyKayla Skinner and No. 8 Makenna Merrell-Giles of Utah, No. 3 Trinity Thomas of Florida and No. 10 Sydney Snead of Georgia.
The Lee’s Summit, Missouri, native is one of three gymnasts in the nation to score a 9.95 or higher on all four events and just the ninth in school history. The reigning SEC Gymnast of the Week is ranked in all four events and the all-around.
Priessman, Finnegan Earn Perfect Scores
Priessman and Finnegan are coming off of perfect scores a week ago and were honored with the league’s top honors. Priessman returned from missing three meets and scored her first perfect score and the first in the SEC this season. The perfect score on bars marked the fourth in school history.
Finnegan scored a perfect score on beam, fourth 10 of her career on any event, to lead LSU to a nation’s best 49.650 on beam. The performance from Finnegan marked the first perfect score on beam in 2019. She joined April Burkholder as the only gymnasts in school history with two perfect scores on beam.
Series History
LSU is 15-8-1 overall against Oregon State with a 2-1 record inside the Maravich Center. LSU and Oregon State have met most in postseason competition with 16 of 24 meetings coming in NCAA play. In the last four seasons, the Tigers have faced the beavers twice in regionals, once at nationals and once for a quad meet. LSU has won the last seven meetings.
Arrive Early
A great crowd is expected on Friday night. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and purchase tickets online in advance at LSUtix.net.
Many lots around the Maravich Center are free and open to the public, including 101, 104 and 105. North Stadium Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic. Lot 201 and 300 off of North stadium Drive will be reserved. There will also be two fan assistance shuttles serving fans in lots around the PMAC for the first time. The shuttle is free to all fans and begins at 5 p.m.
Geaux Clear
Fans are reminded that LSU’s Geaux Clear policy is in effect for all sports. The following bags are permitted inside LSU Athletic venues: clear 12” x 6” x 12” or smaller bags, clear 1-gallon freezer bags & clear or non-clear 4.5” x 6.5” (approximately the size of a person’s hand) wallets/wristlets/clutches. For more information regarding the clear bag policy, please visit http://www.LSUsports.net/geauxclear.
Fans can follow the Tigers on the team’s social media channels: @LSUgym on Instagram and Twitter, www.Facebook.com/lsugym and at YouTube.com/lsugymnastics.