AUBURN, Ala. – The first National Qualifying Score rankings were released this week and the Auburn gymnastics team came in at No. 7 with a 197.385.
"It's great to have the NQS rankings started," head coach Jeff Graba said. "It really gives us an accurate gauge of where we stand in the final seatings going into postseason. Now it's on us to hit these last three meets coming up."
The NQS rankings takes the top six scores, dropping the highest before adding the next five and finding the average. Three of the five scores added together must be on the road.
This week's top teams have not changed much as Oklahoma continues to hold the top spot (198.105). Florida (197.780) and Michigan (197.690) are Nos. 2 and 3, while Utah remains fourth (197.575). UCLA moved up to fifth with a 197.530 NQS.
The rest of the Southeastern Conference is among the top 20 – LSU (No. 8), Alabama (No. 9), Kentucky (No. 12), Georgia (No. 14), Missouri (No. 15) and Arkansas (No. 17).
Auburn ranks sixth nationally on vault (49.280) and floor (49.410). The Tigers are tied for eighth on beam (49.290) and ninth on bars (49.340).
Individually, sophomore Sunisa Lee is eligible to be ranked on vault, bars and beam. She is first nationally on bars with a 9.965 and is ninth on beam at 9.915.
Fifth year Derrian Gobourne is tied for fifth on floor with a 9.940 NQS. Senior Cassie Stevens is tied for 12th in the all-around (39.415).
Auburn returns to Neville Arena to host rival Georgia on Friday, February 24. The Tigers and the Bulldogs will go head-to-head at 6:30 p.m. CT and the meet will be televised live on SEC Network.
