March 19, 2008
Meet Notes |
2008 Stats | Live Scores
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Gymnastics Senior Night
vs. No. 23 Arizona St.
Probable Tiger Lineup
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Columbia, Mo. - In its final tune up before the post season, the No. 16 Tiger Gymnastics squad will host No. 23 Arizona State on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Hearnes Center. The meet, aside from pitting two top-25 opponents against each other, will also serve as the final home meet for four Tiger seniors, Julie Abaray (Cincinnati, Ohio), Nikki Bowman (Virginia Beach, Va.), Ashley Khederian (Carlisle, Mass.) and Lisa Puccio (Kirkwood, Mo.). Cost of admission is only $1 so fans are encouraged to come say farewell to the seniors.
The Tigers will face their second Pac-10 opponent in as many weeks as the Tigers will look to rebound from a third place finish at the Salbasgeon Suites Invitational at Oregon State last weekend. It is also the Tigers final regular season meet as they head to the Big 12 Championships on March 29.
Khederian, an all-arounder this season, will look to put up a big score in the all-around in her final home meet. Khederian had one of her best meets of the season at Oregon State as she tallied a 39.000, the third time she has hit that mark this season. Khederian will look to repeat that feat this weekend. Another Tiger that has been posting big scores has been junior Adrianne Perry (Columbia, Mo.), who has went over 39.000 in five straight meets, claiming the all-around crown in four of those meets. During that stretch, Perry posted a high of 39.375 at Illinois. Perry has also claimed 13 event titles this season, earning 10 of them in the last five weeks, pulling her closer to Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.), who has the team high with 18.
Despite an injury-laden senior season, Abaray has been steadily improving as she recovers from off-season knee surgery. Abaray seems to be returning to form, as she had her best outing on beam in an exhibition role at Oregon State as she hit 9.750, making an appearance in the beam lineup a possibility in her final home meet as a Tiger. Puccio is likely to figure into the bar lineup as a competitor or in an exhibition role in her final meet as well.
The Sun Devils, who are in the South Central Region with the Tigers, will look for a victory over Mizzou in a meet that has huge regional implications. ASU posted a season high last week at its senior meet as the Sun Devils topped Ohio State 196.175 - 194.150. ASU has hit the 196.000 mark twice this season, but has struggled to find consistency throughout 2008.
The Sun Devils are lead by junior all-arounder Tiana Jean, who boasts the 43rd best all-around RQS in the nation. Aside from a sub-par first meet, Jean has been right around 39.000 in every meet this season, posting a season high 39.175 against Oregon State. Jean's best event, similar to the team as a whole, is the balance beam as she has a season high 9.900 on that event. She also has not scored under 9.725 on the event this season.
The Sun Devils are 4-10 on the season and the Tigers lead the overall series 1-0-1 as the Tigers topped ASU at the 2005 NCAA South Central regional.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Fans can buy $1 tickets at the door and any fan with a "10 Sign" from the Cat Classic will receive free admission to the meet. After the meet, the recognition for the four seniors will begin before scores are announced.
