March 12, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" After a successful conclusion to the 2018 regular season, the Auburn gymnastics team moved up to No. 14 in this week's RoadtoNationals.com Regional Qualifying Score standings. The squad has a RQS of 196.595.
"We had a good night on Friday and I think the team adjusted well to the podium environment in Huntsville," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We feel like we're in a good position right now going into an open weekend for us. We definitely need the time off to recover from a full regular season schedule to prepare for the SEC Championship. We're looking forward to building off this last meet for the postseason."
RQS is determined by the team total average with its home meets and three highest away meets, as well as dropping the team's highest score. The same ranking goes for individuals with their high score dropped and at least three away scores counted.
Oklahoma is first at 197.995, while LSU is No. 2 at 197.755. UCLA, Utah, and Florida round out the Top 5. All Southeastern Conference schools are in the Top 25 ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" Alabama (No. 6), Kentucky (No. 9), Arkansas (t-No. 11), Georgia (No. 20), Missouri (No. 21).
The Tigers upped their rankings in all categories after putting together big scores at the annual Elevate the Stage meet in Huntsville. Auburn moved to No. 11 in the country on beam with a 49.2 following a season-best 49.3 on the apparatus.
The squad moved into a tie for 13th on vault at 49.13 and jumped into a tie for 16th on bars with a 49.205. Auburn reached a season-best 49.4 on bars last Friday. The Tigers slid into a tie for 21st on floor at 49.215.
Redshirt junior Abby Milliet is among the nation's best on beam and is tied for 17th with a 9.9 RQS. She also stands at t-28th on floor (9.895) after setting a career-best 9.95 in Huntsville. Junior Samantha Cerio is 27th on bars at 9.89.
Auburn takes a couple weeks off competition before traveling to St. Louis for the 2018 SEC Championship. The two-session meet is set for March 24 and will be held at the Chaifetz Arena.
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