Alabama Gymnasts Go Back On Top

Alabama gymnastics fans have seen the nation's number one team three times this season, but not when the Crimson Tide held the number one ranking. Bama was ranked number one for two weeks, but both those weeks the Alabama team of Coach Sarah Patterson was on the road. And when Bama lost to LSU, the Tide fell to number two. That has been remedied, and Alabama will be home as number one this week.

The Alabama gymnastics team moved back up into the top spot in this week's national rankings after spending last week at number two. The Crimson Tide has now held the top spot nationally in three of the last four weeks.

Alabama is at home Friday against 21st-ranked Arizona. It will be the Crimson Tide's sixth annual Power of Pink meet, helping raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer. Tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office [phone]) or online at RollTide.com.

The Crimson Tide moved up in the rankings after posting the second highest score in the nation this season, a 197.425, last Friday against Florida. Alabama also owns the top score in the nation this year, a 197.450 against Arkansas.

Gymnastics rankings are based on scores.

Oklahoma, which had displaced Alabama in the top spot, dropped to number two this week, followed by Oregon State in third, Florida in fourth and Utah in fifth. The Southeastern Conference dominates the next 10 spots in the rankings, with Arkansas at six, Georgia at seven, LSU at 11, Auburn at 12 and Kentucky at 14.

The Crimson Tide is also number one in the nation on the vault and balance beam again this week. Alabama is second on the floor exercise and eighth on the uneven bars.

Individually, Alabama has four gymnasts ranked in the top25 in the all-around with senior Morgan Dennis fourth, sophomore Ashley Priess sixth, and senior Ricki Lebegern and sophomore Geralen Stack-Eaton tied at number 23.

On the balance beam, Priess is No. 1, Dennis is No. 7 and senior Kassi Price is No. 24. Dennis is third on the floor exercise, while Stack-Eaton and Priess are tied for 25th. On the vault, Dennis is No. 5, Lebegern and Stack-Eaton are tied at No. 9, and junior Kayla Hoffman checks in at No. 20. On the uneven bars Price is No. 7 and Priess is No. 11.