AUBURN, Ala. – No. 12 Auburn finished strong on floor with three career highs, but Kentucky put together its best meet of the season to defeat the Tigers 197.325-196.275 Friday at Neville Arena.
“A young team needs to figure themselves out,” Auburn coach Jeff Graba said. “On floor, they have confidence in each other. They’re trying to figure themselves out in these other three events. We’ve got to get a couple of wins under our belt. They’re doing a good job in practice. At some point, we have to get healthy and predictable.”
Opening on vault, Paige Zancan’s 9.875 highlighted Auburn’s rotation. Julianne Huff scored a 9.85, Marissa Neal and Mia Leverton earned 9.825s while Olivia Greaves and Brynn Torry each scored 9.725s for a 49.1 team score.
Moving to bars for the second rotation, Huff led the Tigers with a career-high 9.925 and Alex Irvine anchored with a 9.875.
“My job was to get us back on track,” said Huff, who competed in the second spot after Auburn opened with a fall. “That’s what I focused on.”
Katelyn Jong scored a 9.8 and Greaves earned a 9.725 but Auburn counted a 9.325 after a second fall, leading to a team score of 48.65.
“We are repeat offenders on bars,” Graba said. “They’ve lost their confidence for some reason in pressure situations. We’re better than that in practice. We’ve got to keep pushing and keep our head down. If and when it clicks, we’re going to be a pretty good team.”
On beam in the third rotation, Neal anchored with a 9.9 for the Tigers’ top score, earning a share of the event title with Kentucky’s Gabby Van Frayen. Irvine preceded her with a 9.85, Olivia Ahern and Hannah Hagle scored matching 9.8s and Huff contributed a 9.775 to give Auburn a 49.125 in the event.
Finishing on floor, Neal (9.925), Ahern (9.875) and Bryn Bartman (9.85) all recorded their career bests, helping the Tigers earn their highest score of the meet, a 49.4. Sophia Bell anchored with a 9.9 and Huff concluded her all-around night with a 9.85.
Huff (39.4) and Neal (38.875) each competed in all four events for Auburn.
“Alex was great tonight,” Graba said. “Marissa had a couple really great events tonight. I was proud of the ones who stepped in and did something special tonight. There are a number of really good bright spots.”
Kentucky’s Delaynee Rodriguez won the all-around, scoring a 9.95 on bars, a 9.925 on vault, a 9.9 on floor and a 9.85 on beam to total 39.65.
Auburn hits the road for a two-meet weekend, beginning at LSU next Friday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, before heading to Fort Worth, Texas, for the Metroplex Challenge, a quad meet against NC State, Boise State, and North Carolina.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer
No. 12 Auburn shines on floor in home loss to Kentucky
No. 12 Auburn finished strong on floor with three career highs, but Kentucky put together its best meet of the season to defeat the Tigers 197.325-196.275 Friday at Neville Arena.
