Alabama vs LSU Gymnastics Preview

The Crimson Tide gymnastics team will have its hands full this week as they travel to Baton Rouge, La., Friday in hopes of capturing its first road win of the season. Alabama won the past three home meets to move up to 8th place in the NCAA gymnastics rankings. LSU currently ranks 5th.

In the meet against Georgia, they struggled on the vault and beam. Only one Alabama gymnast scored a 9.900 or higher in those two rotations, and it was senior Shallon Olsen.

The Tide did, however, improve its scores on the uneven bars and the floor exercise. On the uneven bars, four gymnasts scored above a 9.900 against the Bulldogs. Freshman Lilly Hudson came up big scoring a 9.950 after Makarri Doggette fell on her floor routine. Luisa Blanco and Lexi Graber followed Hudson's 9.950 with a 9.900 and a 9.925.

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Doggette landed wrong during her last tumbling pass and had to be carried off the floor. You could hear a pin drop in Coleman after Doggette's fall. For some Tide fans, it brought back deja vu when Griffin James also landed wrong on a tumbling pass on floor and was lost for the season. Luckily for Alabama, head coach Dana Duckworth said that Doggette's injury was a "small sprain."

"Hopefully we will have her on an event, bars, but at the same time I don't want to over promise," Coach Duckworth said.

Doggette is a consistent 9.900+ on the uneven bars, so losing her would be a big loss for the bar rotation.

The Crimson Tide will have Mati Waligora back after she missed the last meet against Georgia which will add some depth to Alabama's lineups.

Emily Gaskins and Hudson are the two gymnasts who haven't been in the bar rotation every week, but Gaskins competed in four meets while Hudson competed in three meets. Freshman Corinne Bunagan is listed as an all-arounder on the roster, but has yet to compete in a meet this year. James and Graber are also two experienced gymnasts who could move into the bar rotation Friday if Doggette isn't able to compete.

Friday's meet will air on ESPNU at 8 p.m. C.T.