Season-High Scores Lead to a 196.075 for No. 13 Auburn

Jan. 13, 2017

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AUBURN, Ala. -- The No. 13 Auburn gymnastics team hosted SEC rival Georgia Friday night in Auburn Arena and the young Tiger squad set a new season best with a 196.075 in front of a sellout crowd. The Bulldogs took the win with a 196.800.

"We ended up using a lot of people in spots we weren't predicting and we got better tonight and in many ways, it was a positive," head coach Jeff Graba said. "I still feel this team has a lot of potential. I don't believe that this is our premiere lineup on any event and I'm not sure what it is at this point. We're learning a lot on the job."

The sellout of 7,424 was the fourth time in program history that Auburn Arena reached full capacity.

"I just love what our fans do for us," Graba said. "They come out and support us no matter what. It's great to have a sellout crowd and to have this young team in front of this many people and showing off. What it does is it makes us better in the long run."

Highlighting the evening for the nationally ranked Tigers was the fourth rotation as the team finished with a 49.225. Senior MJ Rott closed out the meet as anchor for AU and tied a career high with a 9.95, earning a 10.0 from one judge and picking up her second-straight event title.

"I just went out there and did what Jeff always tells me to do," Rott said. "I had a party. That is exactly what I did and it paid off."

The Tigers made a last minute change to the lineup prior to the rotation, moving freshman Katie Becker into the second slot after beginning the meet as alternate. The Boone, N.C., product put together a solid routine and scored a 9.85 after her first collegiate floor performance.

"I think I did very well," Becker said. "I went out there and probably danced better than I ever have before. It was a lot of fun feeding off the energy of the crowd."

Redshirt freshman Emma Slappey and senior Lucia Scaglione each set career bests on floor. Slappey went 9.85, while Scaglione chipped in a 9.8. Sophomore Samantha Cerio added a 9.775 for the Tigers.

The meet opened on vault and Auburn came away with a 48.900. Freshman Gracie Day tied a season best with a 9.85, while Rott had a 9.8. Becker set a new season high with a 9.775, while sophomores Taylor Krippner and Telah Black added a 9.75 and 9.725, respectively.

Auburn moved to bars for the second rotation and set a season high with a 49.125. A trio of Tigers in Krippner, sophomore Emma Engler, and junior Abby Milliet finished with 9.85s, setting season bests. Day earned a 9.8, while redshirt senior Kelsey Kopec finished with a 9.775.

The third rotation was highlighted by the performance of Slappey on beam. The Jacksonville, Fla., native upped her career high with a 9.8 to lead the Tigers. Engler and Milliet added 9.775s, while senior Kullen Hlawek scored a 9.75. Cerio capped scoring in the event with a 9.725.

Auburn takes to the road for the first time this season, traveling to nationally ranked Kentucky. The Tigers and the Wildcats face off at 6 p.m. CT in Lexington, Jan. 20, and the meet will stream on SEC Network+.

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