AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 5 Auburn gymnastics team is set to host No. 9 LSU on Friday, February 10, in Neville Arena. The top 10 match up will be televised on SEC Network with first vault coming at 7:30 p.m. CT.
"It's an exciting time to be a part of all this," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We have a huge SEC match up coming to town and we can't wait to be with the fans in our own arena. Both teams need a big score so it's going to be a fun night.
"LSU returned quite a few people from last year's squad and are always a great team," Graba added. "They are going to come in ready to go. They're powerful and strong, which means they are going to throw big gymnastics. We have to be ready to counter."
Neville Arena is once again sold out to see the two Tiger teams face off.
"Nothing beats our crowd on a Friday night," Graba said. "We can't wait to feed off the energy our fans put out there."
"This is going to be the most exciting meet in Neville Arena this year," sophomore Sophia Groth said. "We're looking forward to the high energy and can't wait to put on a show for the Auburn fans."
FAN INFORMATION
Friday's meet is SOLD OUT.
You can also purchase from our partner, StubHub, by going HERE. StubHub is the official secondary ticket partner of Auburn Athletics.
The Neville Arena Lot is reserved for those with a parking pass until the end of the pre-meet activities. Fans are encouraged to park in the Campus Safety Lot for quick entry to the 100-200 levels. Additional free parking is also available in the Coliseum Lot, Stadium Parking Deck, and the Athletics Complex Deck (top level). Please refer to the parking map for parking lot locations and post-meet traffic flow information located HERE.
MARKETING
A few reminders for fans during the meet…
- Friday is the annual All Auburn, All Orange meet and orange t-shirts will be given away while supplies last.
- Concessions and team shop are cashless.
- 500 shakers will be available at both the main and scholarship entrances for fans.
- Alabama Power Kid Zone will be open with games and crafts.
- Please arrive to the meet early and give yourself as much time as possible to enter Neville Arena. We advise being in your seats 15 minutes prior to competition to not miss out on any of the pre-game experience.
- Visit your Apple or Google app store and search "Auburn Tigers" to download the free Auburn App, which will allow you to take place in our War Eagle Lights pregame light show during the intro video all season long.
- Autograph cards and posters will be available at both the main scholarship entrances for fans to pick up.
POTENTIAL LINEUP
The 2023 Auburn gymnastics squad brings a wealth of experience to the table this season. The tentative lineup features one fifth year, five seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.
The Tigers will go vault, bars, beam and floor as the home squad on Friday.
Auburn's top eight will remain the same for vault in the first rotation. Fifth year Derrian Gobourne, senior Cassie Stevens and sophomore Sunisa Lee lead the event for the Tigers, all ranking among the top 20 nationally.
Joining the trio in the vault potential lineup is senior Adeline Sabados, junior Olivia Hollingsworth, sophomores Sophia Groth and Sara Hubbard and freshman Hannah Hagle. Hollingsworth, Groth and Hubbard have all been in the lineup this season, while Hubbard kicked off the year with a career-best 9.9. Hollingsworth is coming off a career high in Tuscaloosa with a 9.875.
The Tigers move on to bars for rotation two. Lee is coming off a perfect 10.0 last Friday and is third nationally with a 9.955. Stevens set her season best with a 9.9 on the road and Groth put together a season-high 9.875.
Joining the three in the top eight with experience this season will be Gobourne, Hollingsworth and Sabados. Seniors Aria Brusch and Anna Sumner will also vie for a spot in the lineup this week.
Rotation three will send the squad to beam where the team is coming off a season-high 49.500 last week.
The squad will be led by All-Americans Lee and Groth. Lee is the NCAA champion in the event and has two perfect scores under her belt already this season.
Groth is a two-time All-American and All-SEC performer on beam.
Junior Gabby McLaughlin, Hollingsworth, Stevens and Brusch all return from last year's lineup with big scoring potential, while senior Morgan Leigh Oldham and Hagle have earned a spot in the top eight.
Stevens put together a 9.95 last week in Tuscaloosa, tying her career high. Brusch earned her second-straight 9.9 in the event for the team.
Auburn heads to floor for the for the final rotation.
Gobourne headlines the floor lineup after finishing second nationally and earning two All-America honors in the event last year. She ranks fifth nationally with a 9.940 average and has scored a 9.95 or better three times already this season, including a 9.975 against NC State.
Joining Gobourne in the top eight is senior Brusch, Lee, Stevens, Hollingsworth and Groth. Lee has a 9.975 on the season, while Groth earned a season-best 9.9 last week on the road.
Hollingsworth set a career high vs. the Razorbacks with a 9.9 in the leadoff spot, while Stevens picked up a season best vs. NC State with a 9.925.
Also battling for a spot in the lineup this week will be Hubbard and McLaughlin.
UP NEXT
Auburn travels to Missouri for a Sunday afternoon contest, February 19. The two Tiger teams will face off at 5 p.m. CT in Columbia and the meet will be televised on SEC Network.