Full Road Weekend Ahead for No. 15 Auburn

Feb. 7, 2018

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AUBURN, Ala. -- The No. 15 Auburn gymnastics team has a full slate of competition this weekend, competing in two meets over three days on the road. The Tigers first travel to No. 10 Arkansas for a SEC meet Friday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. CT in Barnhill Arena. The squad caps the weekend in Denton, Texas, for a quad meet at Texas Woman's University. Auburn will take on host TWU, NC State, and Pittsburgh Sunday, Feb. 11, at 2 p.m. CT.

"Arkansas is very tough at home and it will be a challenging test Friday," head coach Jeff Graba said. "They provide a challenging environment at home and it will be interesting to see how this team handles it. We are also excited to travel to Texas Sunday and looking forward to seeing how we hold up to the other conferences."

AUBURN LINEUP
The tentative Auburn lineup for the whole weekend features three juniors, four sophomores, and five freshmen.

Vault boasts a wealth of youth for the Tigers with four of the six slots filled by sophomores and freshmen. Sophomore Gracie Day and freshman Jada Glenn are among the nation's best in the event, reaching career bests against Florida last week. Freshman Drew Watson joins the pair as the three are the squad's top vaulters with the ability to put together three-straight 10.0 vaults. Sophomore Katie Becker will lead off the event with juniors A'Miracal Phillips and Taylor Krippner following.

The Tigers have an experienced group of student-athletes in the lineup on bars. Becker is slated to lead off the event with newbie Watson following. Krippner and steady sophomore Kendal Moss hold down the third and fourth spots, while redshirt junior Abby Milliet will go fifth. Day, who reached a career-best score vs. the Gators in the event last week, will anchor the lineup.

Freshman Allie Riddle will once again lead off beam for the Tigers as the Mobile, Ala., product has held the slot for the last four meets. Becker will go second, while freshman Meredith Sylvia is slated to go third. Redshirt sophomore Emma Slappey is coming off a career-tying score in the event last week and will be fourth. Milliet and Krippner will cap the rotation for the squad.

AU will feature a youthful squad on floor. Becker will complete her go in the all-around as a leadoff in the event with freshman Ashley Smith and Watson bringing the energy in slots two and three. Slappey and Day are set to go fourth and fifth and Milliet will anchor the event.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS
The Arkansas Razorbacks enter the weekend with a 196.310 average to rank 10th nationally. The team has faced an SEC school in all five of its previous meets, holding a 1-4 record overall.

The squad has excelled on beam in 2018, ranking fifth nationally with a 49.230 average. Freshman Sophia Carter stands at No. 14 in the event, averaging a 9.880. Senior Braie Speed leads the team in vault, ranking No. 24 with a 9.860 average.

Freshman Sarah Shaffer was recently named the SEC Freshman of the Week following a 39.350 in the all-around at Alabama.

AUBURN/ARKANSAS SERIES HISTORY
Auburn holds a 16-15-1 overall record in the series history vs. Arkansas. The Razorbacks took the regular season meeting in 2017 before the Tigers returned the favor at the SEC Championship. AU traveled to Fayetteville for an NCAA Regional, tying the Razorbacks with a 196.600 each.

SCOUTING TWU
The Texas Woman's University Pioneers have a season average of 192.470 to come in 56th nationally. The team stands at 3-3 on the season and is coming off a pair of wins at Centenary College this past weekend.

AUBURN/TWU SERIES HISTORY
Auburn stands at 6-0 overall vs. TWU, including a 2-0 mark in Denton. The two teams last met in 2016 where Auburn competed in another TWU quad meet. The Tigers came in second behind eventual national champion Oklahoma with a 196.825, while the Pioneers scored a 191.550.

SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
The Pittsburgh Panthers are 2-6 on the year and rank 44th with a 194.150 average. The squad is 26th nationally on bars, averaging a 48.775 in the event.

AUBURN/PITT SERIES HISTORY
The Tigers lead the series with Pittsburgh, 9-1. The two teams last met in the regular season finale last year in Auburn. AU took home the win, 196.300-194.200.

SCOUTING NC STATE
The NC State Wolfpack hold an 8-3 record in 2018 and rank 30th with a 195.090 average.

AUBURN/NC STATE SERIES HISTORY
Auburn holds a 9-1-1 mark vs. NC State in the all-time series history with a 3-0-1 record in neutral site meetings. It's been 10 years since the two teams met in the regular season with the last contest coming in Raleigh in 2008. Auburn took the W, 195.950-195.375.

UP NEXT
The Tigers return to Auburn Arena for another non-conference meet, Feb. 16. Auburn will host Rutgers at 7 p.m. CT in Auburn Arena and the contest will serve as the team's 'Flip For The Cure' and Military Appreciation meet.

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