AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 12 Auburn gymnastics team returns to Neville Arena Friday night, welcoming Southeastern Conference rival Georgia on February 7. The Tigers and the Bulldogs will go head-to-head at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
“They are going to come to town and it's going to be a tight meet," head coach Jeff Graba said. "Georgia is an experienced team and is coming off a good win at home. I expect a close battle all the way to the end and it will be a good test for us in front of our home crowd."
Auburn is looking forward to being in front of the 9,121 Tiger fans once again this weekend.
"We're going to need the crowd this weekend," Graba said. "There is nothing like our crowd and we're going to need them to help us beat a legacy program like Georgia."
The Tigers look to continue to capitalize on their youth, while also leaning heavily on their senior leadership.
“We had 17 of 24 routines last week from freshmen and sophomores and that just speaks volumes of our depth," Graba said. "I'm excited to see how they do Friday."
FAN INFORMATION
It’s Military Appreciation Night in Neville Arena. The Tigers will be honoring veterans and serving members throughout the night.
In addition, Auburn students will be given free Chick-fil-A while supplies last.
TICKET INFORMATION
Limited standing room only tickets are available for purchase and can be found HERE.
PARKING
A couple of notes on parking as you prepare for Friday’s meet.
- The arena lot is reserved and requires an arena parking pass for access.
- Free and recommended parking is available in the Campus Safety lot located off War Eagle Way. This lot provides easy access to the main entry of Neville Arena. Additional free parking is available in the Stadium Parking Deck, Athletics Complex Parking Deck and the Coliseum Lot.
- Two ADA golf carts will be available starting 90 minutes prior to first vault and one hour post meet. Carts will run from the ADA lot on Wire Road to the Scholarship Entry and North Entry of Neville Arena. An ADA transit will also be available.
- Doors to Neville Arena open 90 minutes prior to each meet. Please plan to arrive early for quick access to parking and entry.
AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn Tigers will be at home once again, starting the meet on vault with bars, beam and floor following.
The team ranks 17th on vault and enters Friday with seven of the eight potential starts with 10.0 start values.
Leading the way in the top eight is senior Sara Hubbard, fifth year Sydney Schumaker and sophomores Julianne Huff and Paige Zancan.
Huff is coming off a season-best 9.875 on her Yurchenko 1.5 last week at Kentucky, while Zancan has a pair 9.9s to her credit this season.
Hubbard has 45 starts to her credit in the event, having gone for the Tigers in every meet of her career. Schumaker has been a key contributor to the event over the two years she's been on the Plains.
Also among the top eight are freshmen Sophia Bell and Katelyn Jong. Jong has a vault title this season, while Bell has a powerful Y1.5.
Seniors Sarah Zois and Anna Hill have also found themselves among the top eight.
The bars crew will go in the second rotation and are coming off a season-best 49.200 at Kentucky.
Jong leads the charge and has scored a 9.9+ in every meet so far this season. She's among the nation's best in the event with a 9.905 average.
Senior Sophia Groth, sophomores Olivia Greaves, Alex Irvine and Emma Grace Boyd along with redshirt freshman Bryn Bartman are also among the top eight for the team on bars.
Greaves has been a consistent contributor for the team in the event, recently reaching a 9.925. Irvine led off the event last week with an Auburn career-best 9.85.
Senior Caroline Leonard continues to work for a spot in the starting lineup, while Huff made her debut in the bars top eight this week.
Rotation three has the squad going on beam, where the Tigers are ranked sixth nationally with a 49.295. The team is coming off back-to-back 49.450s.
Jong once again highlights the group as she's coming off a 9.95 last week, winning the event title.
Fifth year Gabby McLaughlin and Groth also lead the way in the top eight. McLaughlin has been anchor for the squad all season with 55 starts in the event.
Joining the three will be freshman Olivia Ahern, Zancan, Greaves, Zois and Bartman. Greaves made her beam debut last week with a 9.875 and Zois went in exhibition, earning a 9.8.
Auburn will finish the night on floor and the top eight are primarily freshmen and sophomores.
Groth and McLaughlin bring the experience to the group as Groth has two event titles this year.
Zancan, Greaves, Bell and Jong are among the top eight with Jong having a pair of floor titles to her credit.
Bartman and Zois have worked their way into the top eight this week.
UP NEXT
Auburn takes to the road one again in the Southeastern Conference, heading to Florida for a Friday night contest. The Tigers and the Gators will face off at 6:30 p.m. CT on February 14 in Gainesville and the meet will be televised on SEC Network.