AUBURN, Ala. – No. 12 Auburn has a chance to make history Friday night. With a win at No. 8 Alabama, the Tigers can clinch a share of the SEC regular-season championship for the first time in program history. It would also be their first ever win in Tuscaloosa.
"For over 40 years, Auburn has been in the role of trying to be the spoiler," Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. "Alabama has been the team that usually had something to lose when we competed against them. This year, for the first time in Auburn history, we've actually reversed the roles. I'm trying to get our team to be excited that role. They've never been there before.
"This is what they said they wanted when they got here, when we recruited them. They wanted to put our program in position to win championships. And we are now in a position to win a championship. We have to put our money where our mouth is and try to rise to the occasion."
The meet itself is scheduled to begin a 6:30 p.m. CT from Coleman Coliseum and will be televised on SEC Network with Alex Perlman and Alicia Sacramone Quinn on the call.
INSIDE THE SERIES: ALABAMA
Auburn has never won at Alabama and trails in the all-time series, 10-124. However, the Tigers posted one of their highest scores from last season (196.900) against Alabama in the Elevate the Stage meet in Huntsville.
In 2016, Auburn earned the fourth-highest score in program history with a 197.275 to knock off Alabama at home. Current seniors Abby Milliet, Samantha Cerio and Taylor Krippner all played a part in the historic victory.
AUBURN LINEUP
Bars: The lineup has stayed nearly the same on bars all season, and it's no different this week. Sophomore Drew Watson will once again lead off for Auburn, and then it's Taylor Krippner, one of three senior in the lineup. Krippner will be followed by freshman Derrian Gobourne and then the other two seniors, Samantha Cerio and Abby Milliet. Junior Gracie Day, who posted a career-high 9.975 against Arkansas, will serve as the team's anchor.
Vault: The Tigers will lead off with senior A'Miracal Phillips, a late scratch from the lineup last week. After Phillips, it will be Krippner, Day and sophomore Jada Glenn followed by the two all-arounders, Gobourne and Watson, to close out the event. Auburn scored a season-high 49.325 on vault in its last SEC meet thanks to career highs from both Glenn (9.925) and Watson (9.950). The latter won the individual event title.
Floor: Auburn will stick with Cerio in the lead spot after she led off with a 9.800 in last week's meet at TWU. The Tigers will then turn to junior Emma Slappey, who posted a season-high 9.850 at Florida three weeks ago – her last appearance on floor. Following those two will be Watson, Gobourne, Milliet and Day. All four have scored a 9.900 or higher on floor this season.
Beam: The Tigers will close the meet on beam with Watson and Gobourne slated to go 1-2 in the first two spots. Next up is sophomore Allie Riddle, who earned a season-high 9.825 last week in what was just her second appearance this season. From there, it will be Krippner and Milliet followed by sophomore Meredith Sylvia, the team's anchor on beam for the majority of the season. Sylvia leads the team and is tied for 32nd nationally with an NQS score of 9.845.
UP NEXT
A week after competing in Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Alabama will face off again next week in Birmingham for the annual Elevate the Stage meet on Saturday, March 10 at 7 p.m. CT.