AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 12 Auburn gymnastics team welcomes No. 7 Florida to Neville Arena for another Southeastern Conference contest on Friday, January 19. The two teams will face off at 5 p.m. CT and it will be televised on SEC Network.
It's exciting to have a premium opponent come to Neville Arena," head coach Jeff Graba said. "I don't think you get better if you don't compete against real quality opponents, but it is a bit of a gauntlet for us this month."
Auburn has opened the season with three-straight meets against top 10 opponents.
"The month of January is going to be all top 10 opponents that we're competing against," Graba said. "You have to grow under pressure and no better way to do that than to take on the best."
The Tigers are looking forward to hosting the defending SEC champion in front of their home crowd.
"Any time we're at home, it's a great time in Neville," fifth year Cassie Stevens said. "We really feed off the energy of our crowd and we love being at home."
FAN INFORMATION
Doors open at 3:30 p.m. CT and fans are encouraged to plan accordingly to arrive before first vault at 5 p.m. CT.
PARKING
The Neville Arena Lot is reserved for those with a specific gymnastics parking pass in addition to a meet ticket.
For those without a Neville Arena Lot parking pass, free and recommended parking is available in the Campus Safety Lot located off of War Eagle Way. This lot provides easy access to the main entrance of Neville Arena. Additional free parking is also available in the Stadium Parking Deck, Athletics Complex Parking Deck and the Coliseum Lot.
All lots on campus will be free for gymnastics fans starting at 3:30 p.m. CT.
ADA parking is available in the Wire Road lot and a shuttle will begin running 90 minutes prior to each meet. The shuttle will run for one-hour post-meet.
FAN EXPERIENCE
A few reminders for fans during the meet…
- It's Education Night in Neville Arena! Working in partnership with Dean Road Elementary, help us provide gifts and support our Education Supply Drive! Please bring EXPO markers, Crayola markers, copier paper, over the head/straight jack headphones (specifically over the head), or Crayola crayons.
- WEAR NAVY!
- Concessions and team shops are cashless.
- The second autograph card of the season will be available while supplies last.
POTENTIAL LINEUP
Auburn remains on the Plains this Friday, hoping to change up the lineups once again to maximize scoring potential in Neville Arena.
The Tigers will kick off the meet on vault, hoping to see a handful of 10.0 vaults from the top eight.
Leading the way is fifth year Cassie Stevens, who has a pair of 9.975s under her belt and was SEC Co-Champion in the event last year.
Joining her in the top eight are seniors Olivia Hollingsworth and Sydney Schumaker. Both are coming off career bests last week against Kentucky. Schumaker, a transfer from SUNY Brockport, earned a share of the vault title with a 9.9. Hollingsworth followed with a 9.875 to tie a career best.
Junior Sara Hubbard led the Tigers at the Super 16 on the opening weekend, scoring a team-best 9.875 on her Yurchenko 1.5. Junior Sophia Groth continues to improve her scoring potential on her Yurchenko full, while freshmen Julianne Huff and Jersie Woolsey are also among the team's top eight.
Huff has a pair of 9.8s to start the season.
Junior transfer Anna Hill has also cracked the top eight on vault for the Tigers.
Rotation two will see the Tigers on bars. A plethora of upperclassmen are set to lead the charge in the event as five of the top eight are fifth years, seniors or juniors.
Senior Gabby McLaughlin is coming off a stellar meet vs. Kentucky where she tied her career high in the event with a 9.875.
Stevens kicked off the year with a 9.925 in the event and has anchored back-to-back meets. Hollingsworth and Groth each have a 9.875 average, earning 9.9s at the start of the season.
Fifth year Aria Brusch is also among the top eight and has 38 starts in the event in her career.
Joining the experienced crew in the top eight on bars will be sophomore Hannah Hagle as well as freshman Emma Grace Boyd and Huff.
Huff and Boyd are looking to earn their first start in the event this season.
Auburn moves on to beam for the third rotation and the team's top eight is once again heavy in experience.
Stevens, Brusch, Hollingsworth, McLaughlin and Groth have all been consistent contributors for the team throughout their careers.
McLaughlin and Groth each picked up a 9.9 for the squad last week vs. Kentucky. Hollingsworth has been Miss Consistent for Auburn in the leadoff spot and has back-to-back 9.85s to start the year.
Joining them in the top eight will be Hagle, Huff and freshman Paige Zancan.
The squad will cap the night on floor. Hollingsworth looks to anchor the event once more after earning a season-best 9.925 last week.
McLaughlin capped her career night vs. Kentucky with a career-best 9.9 in the event. Groth also had a 9.9 on the night as the group helped Auburn score a 49.425 in the final rotation vs. Kentucky.
Joining the trio in the top eight are Brusch, Stevens, Huff, Hagle and Hubbard.
UP NEXT
Auburn will take to the road to close out January, traveling to No. 4 Arkansas for a Friday night meet on January 26. The two teams will face off at 7 p.m. CT in Fayetteville.