No. 7 Auburn gymnasts host Arizona State Friday on Senior Night
AUBURN, Ala. (auburntigers.com) – The No. 7 Auburn gymnastics team concludes the regular season Friday, March 11, hosting Arizona State at Auburn Arena. The two teams are set to face off at 7 p.m. CT and the meet will be broadcast live on SEC Network+.
“Friday will be an emotional night with it being senior night,” head coach Jeff Graba said. “I think our seniors will rise to the occasion and have a good night. The team feels that obligation for a good send-off and if we bring our best, we’ll have a great performance.”
EVENT INFORMATION
Fans are able to purchase tickets at AUBTix.com. General Admission tickets are available for $6, while Reserved are $8. Tickets for groups of 15 or more are $3 apiece. Fans are encouraged to arrive before 7:15 p.m. CT and to take advantage of Auburn’s “Print-at-Home” to avoid lines at the ticket office.
Shuttles will run continuously for fans from the Athletic Complex and McWhorter Center parking lots from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
For more meet-day information, visit http://www.auburntigers.com/facilities/includes/gym_arena.html
CELEBRATING THE SENIORS
The team will honor its three seniors prior to Friday’s meet – Caitlin Atkinson, Lexus Demers and Kait Kluz.
This year’s class has been a part of many program accomplishments throughout their career. The trio has been a member of the first Auburn team in 22 years to reach the Super Six (2015), were major contributors in the team-record score of 197.750 set last year and guided this year’s youthful squad to historical wins vs. Alabama and at Georgia.
Atkinson is a five-time All-American and holds the school record in the all-around with a 39.750. Demers has been a mainstay for the Tigers in vault, beam and floor since her arrival to the Plains, while Kluz has been a reliable contributor in vault, bars and floor starting as a freshman.
IN THE RANKINGS
Following a season-best performance at nationally-ranked Georgia, the Auburn gymnastics team (7-5, 4-3 SEC) moved up a spot in the national RQS rankings and is seventh with a 196.940.
Since the fifth week of last year’s season, the Tigers have been among the Top 10 for 21-straight weeks. The No. 7 ranking is also the highest the team has ever been ranked at this point in the regular season.
Auburn enters the final week of the regular season tied for seventh on vault (49.235), seventh on bars (49.280), eighth on floor (49.390) and tied for 10th on beam (49.170).
SCOUTING ARIZONA STATE
The Arizona State Sun Devils enter Friday with a RQS of 193.865. The team is guided by senior Allie Salas with an all-around average of 38.940. Senior Taylor Allex is among the Top 20 in the nation on vault (9.875) and is tied for 21st on floor (9.900).
LAST MEETING
It’s been 12 years since the two teams last met, coming in April of 2004 at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. The Sun Devils bested 195.750 with a 196.500 to advance to the NCAA Championships.
UP NEXT
The postseason begins March 19 with Auburn traveling to the 2016 SEC Championships. The conference meet will take place in Little Rock, Ark., and will be split into two sessions.
