(Photo by John Kelley)
The No. 11 Georgia gymnastics team will return to Stegeman Coliseum for its first home meet in nearly a month, as the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide comes to Athens for the 137th all-time meeting between the teams Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The meet will be televised live on the SEC Network.
[break]
[break]
The Gymdogs are returning home after their first road win of the season, a 196.200-195.200 victory over the University of North Carolina. Highlighting the meet for Georgia were three season-high scores, two from Brittany Rogers and one from Chelsea Davis.
[break]
[break]
Georgia will look to improve its RQS score on Friday night as this is the final week that rankings based on a team’s overall average will apply. Among the teams that currently have an RQS, Georgia’s score is seventh-highest. The Gymdogs are No. 11 in average overall scoring.
[break]
[break]
This is the 137th all-time meeting between Georgia and Alabama, with Georgia holding an 80-54-2 advantage and 30-8 mark in Athens. In dual meets with the Tide, the Gymdogs are 32-12. Although Alabama finished on top in last season’s dual meet, the Tide’s last visit to Stegeman Coliseum turned in the Gymdogs’ favor. Georgia handed Alabama its first loss of the 2013 season and first loss in a dual meet with the Gymdogs since 2009 in a 197.500-196.950 victory on Feb. 2, 2013.
Park and Ride
A park and ride bus service running from bus stops at the UGA Intramural Fields going to the old bus location at the Miler Plant Sciences Building on Carlton Street will be available for fans attending the Georgia baseball game and gymnastics meet beginning Friday at 5 p.m. and running until approximately 10 p.m.
[break]
[break]
Georgia-Alabama HistoryThis is the 137th all-time meeting between Georgia and Alabama, with Georgia holding an 80-54-2 advantage and 30-8 mark in Athens. In dual meets with the Tide, the Gymdogs are 32-12. Although Alabama finished on top in last season’s dual meet, the Tide’s last visit to Stegeman Coliseum turned in the Gymdogs’ favor. Georgia handed Alabama its first loss of the 2013 season and first loss in a dual meet with the Gymdogs since 2009 in a 197.500-196.950 victory on Feb. 2, 2013.
Georgia and Alabama, two longstanding programs with strong traditions, have combined to win 16 NCAA titles, including seven in the last decade.
[break] [break] Last Time Out
The Gymdogs topped the UNC Tarheels last Saturday, 196.200-195.200, for their first road win of the season. Brittany Rogers took first-place honors on vault and beam with a pair of 9.9s and added a 9.85 on bars. Ashlyn Broussard shared the title with Rogers on vault. Chelsea Davis placed first on bars with a season-high 9.925.
[break] [break] Noteworthy
» The Gymdogs have not competed in Stegeman Coliseum in 27 days which ties the longest stretch between home dual meets in Georgia history during the regular season. In 2010, the Gymdogs also went 27 days between home meets.
» In Georgia’s seven meets this season, 57 percent (95/168) of the Gymdogs’ routines have been performed by freshmen or sophomores.
» Seven different Georgia gymnasts have taken top honors on an event this season. Ashlyn Broussard leads the team with five event titles, two on beam and three on vault. Brandie Jay has four top finishes, while Chelsea Davis and Brittany Rogers have claimed three event titles apiece. Kiera Brown and Mary Beth Box have two each. Rachel Schick has placed first on bars once this season.
» Georgia has either already competed against or will compete later this season against five teams currently ranked in the top-six. The Gymdogs faced current No. 6 Michigan, No. 2 Florida and No. 3 LSU in the month of January. In addition to Friday’s matchup with No. 5 Alabama, Georgia will take on No. 4 Utah on March 14.
[break] [break]
[break] [break] Last Time Out
The Gymdogs topped the UNC Tarheels last Saturday, 196.200-195.200, for their first road win of the season. Brittany Rogers took first-place honors on vault and beam with a pair of 9.9s and added a 9.85 on bars. Ashlyn Broussard shared the title with Rogers on vault. Chelsea Davis placed first on bars with a season-high 9.925.
[break] [break] Noteworthy
» The Gymdogs have not competed in Stegeman Coliseum in 27 days which ties the longest stretch between home dual meets in Georgia history during the regular season. In 2010, the Gymdogs also went 27 days between home meets.
» In Georgia’s seven meets this season, 57 percent (95/168) of the Gymdogs’ routines have been performed by freshmen or sophomores.
» Seven different Georgia gymnasts have taken top honors on an event this season. Ashlyn Broussard leads the team with five event titles, two on beam and three on vault. Brandie Jay has four top finishes, while Chelsea Davis and Brittany Rogers have claimed three event titles apiece. Kiera Brown and Mary Beth Box have two each. Rachel Schick has placed first on bars once this season.
» Georgia has either already competed against or will compete later this season against five teams currently ranked in the top-six. The Gymdogs faced current No. 6 Michigan, No. 2 Florida and No. 3 LSU in the month of January. In addition to Friday’s matchup with No. 5 Alabama, Georgia will take on No. 4 Utah on March 14.
[break] [break]
Rankings
Although Georgia defeated UNC on Saturday, the Gymdogs fell three spots to No. 11 in this week’s top-25. Georgia is ranked No. 11 on vault, eighth on bars, 19th on beam and No. 13 on floor. Individually, Chelsea Davis jumped eight spots in the national rankings and is currently tied for 11th on bars. Brandie Jay is ranked No. 13 on vault. Alabama is ranked No. 5 overall and has top-10 rankings in all four events. The Tide is fifth on vault, No. 10 on bars, sixth on beam and second on floor.
[break] [break] Up Next
The Gymdogs will travel to No. 8 Auburn for their final road meet of the regular season on Friday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. ET. This marks the second-consecutive year that Georgia will travel to Auburn for a dual meet. The Gymdogs are 76-3 all-time against the Tigers and 27-2 in dual meets.
Although Georgia defeated UNC on Saturday, the Gymdogs fell three spots to No. 11 in this week’s top-25. Georgia is ranked No. 11 on vault, eighth on bars, 19th on beam and No. 13 on floor. Individually, Chelsea Davis jumped eight spots in the national rankings and is currently tied for 11th on bars. Brandie Jay is ranked No. 13 on vault. Alabama is ranked No. 5 overall and has top-10 rankings in all four events. The Tide is fifth on vault, No. 10 on bars, sixth on beam and second on floor.
[break] [break] Up Next
The Gymdogs will travel to No. 8 Auburn for their final road meet of the regular season on Friday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. ET. This marks the second-consecutive year that Georgia will travel to Auburn for a dual meet. The Gymdogs are 76-3 all-time against the Tigers and 27-2 in dual meets.