| No. 7 Auburn vs. No. 6 Alabama | |
| Location | Birmingham, Ala. | Legacy Arena at the BJCC |
| Results | Meet Results |
| Photos | Photo Gallery |
| Video | Highlights |
| Online | Twitter: @Auburn_Gym | Facebook: Auburn Gymnastics |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Competing in its third meet in eight days, the No. 7 Auburn gymnastics team faced No. 6 Alabama in Birmingham Sunday at the Elevate the Stage Meet and fell 196.875-196.075 in Legacy Arena at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
"I thought we started strong," head coach Jeff Graba said. "Our youth showed on beam and we tightened up a little bit, but we settled down better for the floor to close out the meet. In the end, I think we went to floor with a good attitude and I thought the team fought all the way through."
Highlighting the day was the team's performance on its second rotation as the Tigers outscored Alabama, 49.250-49.200, on the bars. A pair of freshmen in Taylor Krippner and Emma Engler each scored a 9.850 to set career bests. Senior Caitlin Atkinson led Auburn with a 9.875, while sophomore Abby Milliet also finished with a 9.850. Senior Kait Kluz totaled a 9.825 and junior Kelsey Kopec finished at 9.800.
The Tigers opened the day on vault, scoring a 49.100. Senior Lexus Demers led the way with a 9.875, while Atkinson added a 9.850. Freshman A'Miracal Phillips posted a 9.825 and was followed by junior MJ Rott (9.800), Krippner (9.750) and Engler (9.650).
The third rotation had Auburn on the beam and the Tigers posted a score of 48.825. Milliet led with a 9.850 and Atkinson finished with a 9.825. Engler scored a 9.800, while junior Kullen Hlawek followed with a 9.750. Krippner and Demers closed out scoring with a 9.600 and 9.475, respectively.
Auburn capped the day on the floor with a 48.900. Junior Lucia Scaglione tied a career-best with a 9.750 to open the rotation for the Tigers. Atkinson and Hlawek each tallied season-best scores, having a 9.825 and a 9.800, respectively. Rott scored a 9.775 and was followed by a 9.750 by Kluz and a 9.700 by Milliet.
Atkinson finished tied for first with Alabama's Kiana Winston in the all-around, scoring a season-best 39.375.
The Tigers return to Auburn Arena Friday, Jan. 22, to host No. 3 Florida beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Season and single meet tickets can be purchased online www.aubtix.com.
For the latest on Auburn gymnastics, follow @Auburn_Gym on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AUGymnastics.
| Auburn's Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Vault | Bars | Beams | Floor |
| Taylor Krippner - 9.750 | Kelsey Kopec - 9.800 | Kullen Hlawek - 9.750 | Lucia Scaglione - 9.750 |
| Emma Engler - 9.650 | Taylor Krippner - 9.850 | Taylor Krippner - 9.600 | Abby Milliet - 9.700 |
| A'Miracal Phillips - 9.825 | Emma Engler - 9.850 | Emma Engler - 9.800 | Kait Kluz - 9.750 |
| Lexus Demers - 9.875 | Kait Kluz - 9.825 | Lexus Demers - 9.475 | Kullen Hlawek - 9.800 |
| MJ Rott - 9.800 | Abby Milliet - 9.850 | Abby Milliet - 9.850 | MJ Rott - 9.775 |
| Caitlin Atkinson - 9.850 | Caitlin Atkinson - 9.875 | Caitlin Atkinson - 9.825 | Caitlin Atkinson - 9.825 |
| Total -- 49.100 | Total -- 49.250 | Total -- 48.825 | Total -- 48.900 |