2018 Elevate the Stage - Huntsville (NCAA) | Alabama vs Auburn

Rivals Auburn & Alabama Take The Floor At Elevate The Stage In Huntsville

Rivals Auburn & Alabama Take The Floor At Elevate The Stage In Huntsville

Alabama is hitting its stride, and Auburn has struggled. How will Elevate the Stage shake out this weekend in Huntsville, Alabama?

Mar 8, 2018 by Lauren Green
Rivals Auburn & Alabama Take The Floor At Elevate The Stage In Huntsville

Crimson Tide Hitting Their Stride

Alabama faces Auburn for the second time in three meets, this time at the Elevate the Stage meet in Huntsville, Alabama, tomorrow night. The last time out, the Crimson Tide posted their best score of the season — a 197.300 — on the road. They finished with matching 49.400s on uneven bars and balance beam led by senior Kiana Winston with a 9.925 on bars and a 9.900 on beam.

Alabama improved on its season-high last weekend against North Carolina with a 197.525 at home. Freshman Lexi Graber was a standout on bars and beam with a pair of 9.900s and a 39.500 in the all-around. Graber has been incredibly consistent throughout the season on vault, bars, and beam. She has 18 scores of 9.800 or better in 23 routines.

Seniors Nickie Guerrero and Kiana Winston have been incredible for Alabama, especially on uneven bars and balance beam. Winston hasn’t scored below a 9.850 on bars through nine routines and has a 9.875 or better in seven beam routines. Guerrero has been stellar on beam with a 9.850 or better eight straight routines including a season-best 9.950 against Florida in Week 6. She has five straight 9.900 or better routines on floor and hasn’t scored below a 9.800 on vault all season.

Ranked: 6th

Event to Watch: Bars (5th), Floor (12th)

Key routines: Lexi Graber – Balance beam, Kiana Winston – Floor exercise, Nickie Guerrero - Vault





Auburn Hopes To Overcome Falls

The Tigers struggled against Alabama two meets ago with a 195.400. Auburn counted falls on both uneven bars and balance beam in the second and third rotations. Beam has been a strong event for Auburn this season with the Tigers hitting 49.075 or better in six of their last seven meets. The last two meets though have brought back-to-back meets where the Tigers counted a fall on the event.

Freshman Drew Watson put together three great events last time out against Alabama with a 9.900 on vault, a 9.875 on floor, and a 9.800 on bars. She unfortunately had a fall on beam in just her fourth beam routine this season.

Senior Abby Milliet has been stellar on balance beam and floor exercise this season. She has eight routines of a 9.875 or better on beam and nine scores of 9.800 or better on floor this season. Sophomore Gracie Day has been a solid competitor for the Tigers on vault and bars with all of her vaults going 9.775 or better on all 10 vaults. She posted a season-high on uneven bars with a 9.925 on February 2 against Florida and a career-high 9.925 on February 23 against the Crimson Tide.

Ranked: 16th

Event to Watch: Vault (13th), Balance beam (14th)

Key routines: Gracie Day – Floor exercise, Abby Milliet – Uneven Bars, Drew Watson - Vault