LSU gymnastics drops second meet despite late comeback efforts to Georgia.
LSU gymnastics fell victim to their second loss of the season, falling short No. 8 Georgia on the road 197.200-196.850.
Friday night's meet marked Georgia's first win over LSU since 2016.
In the beginning, on bars and vault, LSU struggled to compete six strong routines. Their dropped scores on both events were below 9.600.
LSU opened the meet up on bars, their highest score in the season opening meet. And the first three gymnasts delivered again.
Led off by Lexi Zeiss, she stuck her landing and posted a 9.900. It was followed with a 9.850 from Ashley Cowan and a 9.825 from Madison Ulrich.
The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year Kailin Chio was up. She fell on her transition from the high beam to the low beam but got back on the bars and stuck her landing.
Her deduction for the fall gave her a starting value of 9.500, she was able to score a 9.300.
Courtney Blackson posted a 9.850 before Konnor McClain would anchor the team with a strong 9.950.
As vault came, it was nearly the same story. Zeiss opened with a 9.850, followed by Ulrich with a 9.800.
Victoria Roberts had a 9.650, LSU looking to drop that, but a 9.525 would follow from Kathryn Weilbacher.
Blackson put up a 9.850 before Chio anchored with a 9.925.
The half point hit and LSU trailed by .075.
“They learned in first meet, how to fight, and that's something really that every team needs to learn,” LSU head coach Jay Clark said following their opening meet.
LSU needed to continue to fight, as the story stayed true for floor.
Emily Innes and Ulrich both posted 9.800’s to lead off.
McClain would miss her landing on her final pass and score a 8.975. Chio helped correct course, but Drayton would nearly fall as well, scoring a 9.575.
And yet again, LSU would anchor strong. Kaliya Lincoln had a beautiful routine, scoring a 9.925.
Down by .300, LSU needed to find their grove on every routine.
LSU looked like the fighting Tigers for sure on beam, as Kylie Coen led things off with a 9.850.
Zeiss had herself a night, only scoring over 9.850. She posted a 9.875 on beam with a stick landing in the two spot.
Drayton found her stride too, adding a 9.925 to LSU’s push for the win.
Georgia fought hard too, posting two 9.825’s and a 9.950 through the first three routines.
This is where the meet changed.
Chio delivered in the clutch moment with a 9.950. Ulrich followed with a 9.850.
Georgia on floor would kill LSU’s hopes with a dominant stretch or routines. Their two penultimate routines consisted of two 9.925’s.
McClain scored a 9.800 to anchor, but it wouldn’t be enough for LSU to overcome the Bulldogs as their last routine on floor scored a 9.950.
LSU looks ahead to their first home meet as they welcome Kentucky at the PMAC on Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
