The Gymdogs went into Friday’s meet with the Gators in Gainesville, FL on a five-game win streak but were unable to make it six, falling to Florida 197.975 – 196.525, despite Georgia having their highest rotation score on beam.
For the first time this season, Georgia got its highest rotation score of the meet on beam. Rachel Dickson (9.85) and Vivi Babalis (9.9) both posted career-best scores in the final rotation as the Gymdogs claimed their second-best road score of the year.
“I’m really pleased with how we finished on beam,” said University of Georgia gymnastics head coach Danna Durante. “I thought there was great fight on every event. Some performances were absolutely unbelievable, whether the score reflected that or not. I thought some performances were really what we were after. We’re going to focus on what those performances were that were what we wanted, and we’re excited about getting this meet under our belt and having two more great challenges in front of us.”
Snead’s 9.875 led Georgia in its first rotation, where the Gymdogs posted a 49.1 on bars. Senior Lauren Johnson followed closely behind with a 9.85, and Dickson (9.825) and Morgan Reynolds (9.8) also gave strong routines. Florida held the lead through the first, 49.45-49.1.
Johnson led Georgia on vault with a 9.85, followed by three Gymdogs who posted 9.825s – Rachel Dickson, Morgan Reynolds and Beth Roberts. A strong bars rotation allowed Florida to add to its lead, making the score 99.025-98.2 through two rotations.
On floor, Georgia’s two all-arounders Reynolds and Dickson tied for the team-best score with a pair of 9.875s. Babalis also contributed a 9.825 as the Gymdogs were given a 49.15 in the rotation and trailed 148.55-147.35 into the final event.
Georgia closed out the meet on beam with a 49.175. The Gymdogs got career-best scores from Babalis (9.9) and Dickson (9.85) in the final rotation in addition to strong showings from Sabrina Vega (9.8) and Rachel Schick (9.85), helping UGA post its highest rotation score of the meet in the final event.
The Gymdogs hit the road again next week for a quad meet with top-ranked Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU and No. 13 Mizzou in St. Charles, Missouri on Friday. The meet is set for a 7:30 pm ET start.
TEAM RESULTS
Georgia – 196.525
Florida – 197.975
Vault – 49.100
Ashlyn Broussard – 9.775, Morgan Reynolds – 9.825, Beth Roberts – 9.825, Lauren Johnson – 9.85, Gigi Marino – 9.775, Rachel Dickson – 9.825
Bars – 49.100
Hayley Sanders – 9.05, Morgan Reynolds – 9.8, Lauren Johnson – 9.85, Sydney Snead – 9.875, Rachel Dickson – 9.825, Rachel Schick – 9.75
Beam – 49.175
Sabrina Vega – 9.8, Hayley Sanders – 9.75, Rachel Dickson – 9.85, Morgan Reynolds – 9.775, Vivi Babalis – 9.9, Rachel Schick – 9.85
Floor – 49.150
Morgan Reynolds – 9.875, Beth Roberts – 9.775, Vivi Babalis – 9.825, Sabrina Vega – 9.675, Rachel Dickson – 9.875, Gigi Marino – 9.8