In a high-scoring affair with the Crimson Tide, the
Gators ultimately fell into a hole too deep to climb out.
The Tide’s depth and home momentum proved to be too
much for UF on Friday night, as No. 3 Florida (6-1, 2-1
Southeastern Conference) came up short against defending national
champion No. 6 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC)
"s1">197.725-196.900 in the Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa,
Ala.
To this date, UF hasn’t won a dual meet in Tuscaloosa
since 1979.
“It was not our best competition,” coach Rhonda Faehn
said. “It certainly wasn’t the same energy or the same execution as
last week. We were a little bit flatter and a little bit more
sluggish, but there were definitely some great areas, some great
things.”
While the team score of 196.90 is the second-highest
total for Florida this season, behind last week’s nation-leading
197.775 against top-ranked Arkansas, No. 24 Maryland and
Bridgeport, UF couldn’t match the intensity of an Alabama team that
was firing on all cylinders.
The Crimson Tide, the No. 1 vault team in the country
with a 49.333 average, began the meet on vault, while Florida took
uneven bars. A 10 by Alabama’s Diandra Milliner helped propel the
Tide to an early 49.600-49.225 lead after the first rotation.
From that point on, Florida struggled to eliminate
the deficit, as the Tide only added to its advantage throughout the
remainder of the meet.
“Alabama did a great job tonight; there’s no doubt
about that,” Faehn said. "They’re obviously a very strong vault
team. That was fortunate for them that they started off on a strong
event for them, and it helped carry the momentum.”
Although Florida suffered its first loss of the
season, two UF gymnasts picked up at least a share of two
individual titles Friday.
Scoring a 9.9, sophomore Mackenzie Caquatto won her
second consecutive bars title, while junior Ashanée Dickerson won
balance beam in a four-way tie with three other Alabama gymnasts at
9.9.
Freshman Kytra Hunter scored a 39.45 to share second
place in the all-around category with the Crimson Tide’s Ashley
Sledge. Sophomore Alaina Johnson came in third with an all-around
total of 39.375.
Alabama’s Ashley Priess claimed the all-around title
with a 39.55.
While UF didn’t appear shaken or rattled by an
intimidating Coleman Coliseum crowd of 12,457, Faehn said she
thought her team looked a little tired Friday night.
“It’s a tough environment,” Faehn said. “I’m proud of
the way they competed. They’re excited to get back in the gym to
make the corrections of little things we did [Friday night] that we
know we could do a lot better.”
