No. 11 Auburn on the road at No. 17 Alabama for a Friday night meet

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 11 Auburn gymnastics team continues its road swing, traveling to rival and No. 17 Alabama for a Friday night contest in Coleman Coliseum. The Tigers and the Crimson Tide will face off at 7:30 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa on SEC Network.

"You have to assume this is going to be a tight meet," head coach Jeff Graba said. "We've been in tight meets already this year so it's going to be on us to step up our game. It could very well come down to the final rotation once again for us and we're looking forward to the challenge on the road against our rival."

This youthful team has faced a wealth of adversity and tough environments this year and still have come away with solid scores and big performances. The Tigers boast the toughest schedule in the country according to College Gym News and those experiences are starting to pay off.

"We're a tough team and we're resilient," Graba said. "I think this team does a really good job at keeping their head down. They don't think they're out of it. They just keep plugging away. That's a good mark for a very young team."

AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn Tigers will go in the following order as the road team this Friday in Tuscaloosa - bars, vault, floor, beam.

Leading the way in the top eight on bars are sophomores Alex Irvine and Olivia Greaves as well as freshman Katelyn Jong.

Jong is among the nation's best in the event, ranking eighth nationally with a 9.895 NQS. She scored a 9.9 or better in the first five meets this season, including a career-high 9.925 vs. Oregon State.

Irvine has scored back-to-back 9.9+ scores for the team in the event, including a 9.95 two weeks ago vs. Georgia.

Greaves has been a consistent contributor for the squad, including a 9.925 to her credit.

Joining the three in the top eight are seniors Sophia Groth and Caroline Leonard and sophomores Emma Grace Boyd, Bryn Bartman and Julianne Huff.

Groth earned a 9.9 on the road at Florida last week.

Auburn moves on to vault in rotation two. The Tigers reached a sesaon-high 49.300 in the event last week on the road.

Senior Sara Hubbard is among the nation's best with a 9.840 NQS. Classmate Sarah Zois won a share of the event title vs. Florida with an Auburn career best 9.9.

Jong tied her career score last week vs. the Gators with a 9.875. Huff and classmate Paige Zancan along with seniors Sydney Schumaker and Anna Hill and freshman Sophia Bell are also among the top eight.

Floor is next in rotation three.

Leading the charge are seniors Groth and Gabby McLaughlin. Groth has won three floor titles this season, including a 9.95 against Georgia two weeks ago. She's among the nation's best with a 9.860 NQS.

Zancan and Greaves as well as Jong and Bell have contributed to the overall team with Bell have a career-best 9.925 to her credit.

Zancan, Greaves and Jong each have reached a 9.9.

Zois and Bartman have worked their way into the top eight.

The final event will be beam where the Tigers have exceled all season. The team ranks fourth nationally with a 49.320 NQS.

Usual suspects like Groth, McLaughlin and Jong highlight the top eight. McLaughlin has 57 starts in the event, while Groth has 46. Groth tied a career high at Florida with a 9.95, while McLaughlin anchored with a 9.925.

Jong has been excellent on the apparatus, having three scores of 9.9 or better, including a 9.95.

Freshman Olivia Ahern and Zancan have been consistent contributors for the team with Ahern setting a career high with a 9.85 last week.

Greaves has three starts on beam this season and has a 9.875 to her name. Zois and Huff have each solidified spots in the top eight for the team in the event.

UP NEXT
Auburn returns to Neville Arena next Friday, hosting the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners. This will be Oklahoma's first trip to the Plains since 2010. The two teams will face off at 7 p.m. CT and the meet will be streamed on SEC Network+.