FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 6 Auburn gymnastics team traveled to No. 10 Arkansas for a Sunday match up and came away with a 196.075 in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks took the meet with a 197.250.
“I saw a lot of fight and determination from this squad despite it not going the way we wanted,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “There were a lot of good things when you look for them, but on the surface we can’t have many more meets like that. We just came out flat. We’re going to get some rest and get back to work for another big SEC meet coming up.”
Highlighting the evening were the performances from sophomore Sophia Bell and junior Alex Irvine. The pair scored a 9.9 or better in each of their respective events as Bell won floor and Irvine took bars.
In addition, sophomore Marissa Neal made her debut in the all-around for the Tigers, finishing second with a 39.250.
After a slow start on bars and vault in the first rotations, the team’s floor squad brought the energy to score a 49.200 in rotation three.
Bell led the way with a 9.925 to win the event title, marking her second-straight meet with a 9.9 or higher. Junior Julianne Huff chipped in a 9.875, while Neal had a 9.85. Sophomores Olivia Ahern and Bryn Bartman added a 9.8 and a 9.75 to the overall team score.
Auburn kicked off the meet on bars, going 48.750 in rotation one.
Irvine earned a share of the event title with a season-best 9.9. Neal and Huff each earned a 9.8 with juniors Olivia Greaves and Emma Grace Boyd having a 9.65 and a 9.6 towards the overall score.
Bell led the vault squad in the second rotation with a 9.9 to come in a tie for second overall in the event. Freshman Mia Leverton and junior Paige Zancan put together 9.825s with Neal adding a 9.75. Greaves’ 9.725 contributed to the team’s 49.025.
Irvine highlighted the beam lineup in rotation four, making her beam debut as an Auburn Tiger. The Roseville, California product earned a spot in the lineup after a solid exhibition showing last week and scored a 9.9 for the Tigers in Fayetteville.
Neal added a 9.85 and Greaves finished with a 9.8. Huff and Ahern scored a 9.775 apiece.
Huff and Greaves also competed in the all-around for the Tigers as Huff put together a 39.150 and Greaves combined for a 38.875.
Auburn will host its first top five opponent in a matchup vs. No 1. Florida on January 23. The meet is set for 7:45 p.m. CT in Neville Arena and will be televised on SEC network.
No. 6 Tigers with a 196.075 in loss at No. 10 Arkansas
The No. 6 Auburn gymnastics team traveled to No. 10 Arkansas for a Sunday match up and came away with a 196.075 in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks took the meet with a 197.250.
