The No. 10 Kentucky gymnastics team will return to Memorial Coliseum on Friday at 7 p.m. to face the No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide. The meet can be watched live on SEC Network+ and will be replayed on ESPNU on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Kentucky is coming off a close meet with No. 9 Georgia last Friday. The Wildcats fell to the Bulldogs, 196.500 – 195.150, but UK won the beam title with an impressive 49.325. On the beam, sophomores Alex Hyland and Sidney Dukes both posted scores of 9.925 to take the individual beam crown. Hyland now sits at now No. 4 in the nation in average beam score at 9.892.
The meet is father/daughter date night, and UK invites all fathers and daughters to spend the Friday before Valentine’s Day at Memorial Coliseum. The meet will feature concession specials of two heart-shaped cookies for $1.50 and two hot dogs, two drinks and a box of candy for $5.00.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama is ranked sixth in the nation, and is coming off its best performance. The Crimson Tide scored a 197.825 last week to beat No. 3 Florida last Friday. Alabama has already faced the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 team in the country. Bama ranks in the top 12 on all four events, including fourth on the balance beam.
LOOKING AHEAD: AT MARYLAND, PENN & WILLIAM & MARY
Kentucky will head east to take on Penn, William & Mary and host Maryland. Penn is currently the No. 58 team in the country with an average score of 197.788. William & Mary sits at No. 63 with an average score of 190.625. The host Maryland is the highest ranked team of the group at No. 41 with an average score of 197.090.
NATIONAL RANKING
After week five, the Cats sit at No. 10 in the nation for the second consecutive week. Kentucky has been ranked in the top 15 of the Road to Nationals poll every week this season, and has remained in the top 10 for the last four weeks.
ROTATION RANKINGS
Not only has Kentucky sat in the top 15 in the Road to Nationals poll, the Wildcats also sit high in every rotational ranking. The Cats’ highest ranking comes on beam, where they rank No. 11 at 49.117. The Wildcats sit at No. 12 on the floor with an impressive average of 49.067, and No. 14 on the bars with an average of 48.979. On vault, UK is No. 20 with an average of 48.892.
PUTTING UP NUMBERS ON BEAM
Sophomore Alex Hyland has been phenomenal on beam this season. Hyland has not posted a score below a 9.875 this season, and recently put up a career-best 9.925 at Georgia on Friday. Hyland currently sits at No. 4 in the nation in average beam score with an average of 9.892.
ALL-AROUND RANKING
Kentucky has four athletes who compete in the all-around, and three sit in the top 50 in average all-around score. Freshman Mollie Korth has the highest all-around score with an average of 39.317, and has a high of 39.575. Sophomore Sidney Dukes follows at No. 29 with an average score of 39.235 and Alex Hyland is No. 39 at 39.160.
For complete news and updates on the Kentucky Gymnastics program, go to UKathletics.com. Season tickets can be found on UKathletics.com/Tickets. News and updates on the team can also be found on Twitter at @UKGymnastics and at @UKCoachGarrison and Facebook at Facebook.com/UKGymnastics.