University of Georgia
Kentucky
Gymdogs Top Kentucky for Fifth-Straight Win
February 03, 2017 | Gymnastics
Coach Danna Durante and Morgan Reynolds recap the Gymdogs' win over Kentucky.
Feb. 3, 2017
ATHENS, Ga. -- The Georgia gymnastics team (5-1, 4-1) extended its win streak to five meets as it topped 10th-ranked Kentucky (3-3, 1-3) by a final score of 196.500-196.150 at its red-out meet on Friday night at Stegeman Coliseum.
The No. 9 Gymdogs earned three event titles and the all-around crown, with Morgan Reynolds (9.875) posting the best score on vault, Rachel Dickson and Natalie Vaculik (9.9) sharing top honors on bars, and Sabrina Vega (9.9) scoring best on floor. Reynolds also posted a meet-best 39.4 in the all-around.
"I think the last couple of weeks have provided a lot of adversity for us," said Georgia gymnastics head coach Danna Durante. "Coming out of beam, we faced adversity there, and then rallied on floor and did a great job. I'm just so proud of them. They just continue to fight. We've got some places we can get better still. I saw a couple of places where maybe the polish was not quite there. But their fight is always there. That's just something I'm so proud of. I'm just so excited for them. They never back down."
Georgia got off to a fast start in its first rotation, as Reynolds led the team with a 9.875 on vault. The team also got a big performance from Rachel Dickson (9.85) and 9.825s from the trio of Gigi Marino, Ashlyn Broussard, and Lauren Johnson to lift Georgia to an early 49.200-48.925 lead.
As the Gymdogs moved to bars, it was Vaculik and Dickson who both notched a 9.9, to give the team a 49.275 in its second rotation, tying its season-best score in the event. This was Vaculik's first time competing this season, and she matched her career-best effort. Rachel Schick (9.85), Morgan Reynolds (9.825) and Hayley Sanders (9.8) also contributed as Georgia furthered its lead over Kentucky 98.475-97.800.
Georgia lost some breathing room on beam, scoring a 48.65 as a team in its third rotation. Reynolds tied a career-high with a 9.825 for the second-straight meet while Vega recorded a 9.825 of her own as the Bulldogs went into the final rotation with a 147.125-146.825 lead.
The Gymdogs capped the victory on floor, posting a 49.375 as a team. Vega led the team with a 9.9; Dickson, Marino and Reynolds all tacked on 9.875s of their own, and Vivi Babalis (9.85) and Beth Roberts (9.8) closed the meet and gave Georgia its fifth straight win.
The Gymdogs will return to action next Friday, February 10, as they travel to Gainesville, Florida to take on the No. 3 Gators. The meet is the first of three consecutive meets on the road for Georgia, which returns home on March 5 as it hosts Alabama.
For all the latest on Georgia gymnastics, follow the team on Twitter (@UGAGymnastics), Instagram (ugagymnastics), Facebook (Georgia Gymnastics) and Snapchat (UGAGymdogs), and keep checking in to georgiadogs.com.
MEET RESULTS
Georgia - 196.500
Kentucky - 196.150
Vault - 49.200
Ashlyn Broussard - 9.825, Morgan Reynolds - 9.875, Beth Roberts- 9.775, Lauren Johnson - 9.825, Rachel Dickson - 9.85, Gigi Marino - 9.825
Bars - 49.275
Hayley Sanders - 9.8, Morgan Reynolds - 9.825, Lauren Johnson - 9.75, Natalie Vaculik - 9.9, Rachel Dickson - 9.9, Rachel Schick - 9.85
Beam - 48.650
Sabrina Vega - 9.825, Hayley Sanders- 9.65, Morgan Reynolds- 9.825, Ashlyn Broussard- 9.700, Vivi Babalis - 9.650, Rachel Dickson- 9.175
Floor - 49.375
Morgan Reynolds - 9.875, Beth Roberts - 9.800, Vivi Babalis - 9.85, Sabrina Vega - 9.9, Rachel Dickson - 9.875, Gigi Marino - 9.875
Players Mentioned
