This matchup is one that most fans likely wrote off as not worth watching, but there’s still some intriguing storylines that will make you want to keep your TVs switched to this channel.
LSU has its first real home meet tonight and is looking to shake off a disappointing loss at Georgia last weekend. Even through some misses, the Tigers still put up a high 196 behind an impressive all-around performance from transfer Madison Ulrich, and Kailin Chio pulling out event wins on vault and beam after a fall on bars to open her competition. Being back at home will give LSU a boost, but it will want to clean up those mistakes and get the home crowd behind it early to get some confidence back.
Kentucky is a team we’re not used to seeing struggle this much in the early goings of season. Normally, it is right up there in the top 15, but some early-season issues on beam have led to two straight 194s, the latter of which included three counting beam falls. Delaynee Rodriguez has been a bright spot, though, and is essentially carrying the team on her back in Creslyn Brose’s absence. Brose is expected to be back tonight after clearing concussion protocol last weekend, but how much will having her return to lineups steady things?
You can watch tonight’s meet here on ESPN2 and find live stats through Virtius here!
Hello from the center of the upcoming ice storm! Yes, I have stocked up on everything and am about as prepared as I can be. Lineups are in for tonight; of note, Creslyn Brose is in fact back on beam and floor tonight! Breathe a sigh of relief Wildcat fans. For LSU, Nina Ballou looks set to return to the floor lineup and make her vault debut. Also making her vault debut is Konnor McClain, who we know is training a double full.
Rotation 1: LSU VT, Kentucky UB
Zeiss (LSU): Y 1.5, lot of knee form issues in the air with a stick on the landing. What a way to start the night! 9.900
Rizo (UK): blind to straddle Jaeger, nice straight catch on the high bar. First handstand looked good, last handstand was short, very whippy double layout dismount with a low chest. 9.725
McClain (LSU): Aw man, doesn’t do the double, just goes for the full, big block off the table with lots of height, sizable hop back. 9.825
Noonan (UK): Ray to immediate overshoot, nice positions on both of those skills and really good rhythm, another double layout with a low chest landing, but fights for the stick. 9.875
Ballou (LSU): Y 1.5, some bent arms and knees in the air, gets the stick with a squat. 9.750
van Frayen (UK): blind to straddle Jaeger, nice toe point off the bar. Pak salto with some leg separation, full twisting double tuck dismount, low chest and multiple steps forward. 9.725
Drayton (LSU): Y 1.5, LOTS of height off the table but had too much power and had to take two giant hops forward. 9.700
Bennett (UK): Maloney to Pak combo, hits the handstand on the half pirouette, has to save the final handstand, double layout dismount with a low chest and step forward. 9.775
Lincoln (LSU): Y 1.5, some bent arms on the block, takes her to the side with a large hop forward. 9.825
Rivelli (UK): short on the first handstand, goes for the Jaeger and is too far away and takes the fall. This opening rotation has been really mid so far. Remounts and repeats the skill and connects it to the overshoot. Final handstand was a touch short as well, double layout dismount, some leg separation, with a stick.
Chio (LSU): Needs to drop a 9.700 here. Y 1.5, beautiful block off the table, little bit of loose knees in the air with a stick. A much needed hit for the Tigers! 9.950
Rodriguez (UK): Needs a hit to drop Rivelli’s fall. Nails her release move, handstands were really solid throughout, double layout dismount, looked like she dropped her shoulders a little bit with the low chest but got the stick. Saves the rotation for the Wildcats.
AFTER ONE: LSU 49.250, Kentucky 48.975
A bit of a “meh” rotation to kick things off here. The Tigers will be thrilled with Zeiss and Chio going 9.900 plus to start and end the rotation, but left some tenths on the board when it came to landings. That will need to be cleaned up if LSU wants to extend its lead. Meanwhile, Kentucky erases Rivelli’s fall, but only topped out with 9.875s from Noonan and Rodriguez. Vault has been the Wildcats highest scoring event this year, so let’s see what happens when they take to the table.
Rotation 2: Kentucky VT, LSU UB
Hofseth (UK): Y full, some bent arms on the block, off to the center and takes a sizable step backwards. 9.650
Zeiss (LSU): pretty handstands to start, Maloney to Pak is clean, hits the final handstand, full twisting double tuck with a stick. Have yourself a night, Lexi Zeiss. 9.925
Rizo (UK): Y full, big height off the table, nice block, some flexed feet in the air with a tiny hop back. 9.825
Cowan (LSU): Ray to overshoot, nice extension on the catch, little short on the final handstand, double layout, underrotated and took a tiny hop backwards. 9.875
Gardner (UK): FHS pike half, didn’t get the best block off the table, some form issues in the air with a hop back. 9.825
Ulrich (LSU): Maloney to Pak just FLOATS in the air, hits the handstand before the pirouette, good final handstand, double layout with a tiny step back. 9.850
Noonan (UK): Y half on front pike half off, fights to keep the stick, ends up moving one foot. Solid vault throughout. 9.875
Chio (LSU): Nails her first handstand after taking a fall last week. Really nice shape on the Khorkina, catches it with straight arms. Full twisting double tuck with a stick. 9.900
Rodriguez (UK): Y 1.5, some bent knees on the block and loose knees in the air, takes a tiny step on the landing. 9.775
Blackson (LSU): Really quick on that first handstand. Blind to Khorkina, lots of height off the bar on that skill, double layout dismount with a stick. That was really good. 9.950
Cashion (UK): FHS pike half, BEAUTIFUL block off the table, nice straight legs in the pike, tiny step on the landing.
McClain (LSU): Looking to drop a 9.850 here. Catches her Church really close with bent arms and doesn’t connect to the Pak. Really pretty position in the handstands, full twisting double tuck dismount with a stick.
AFTER TWO: LSU 98.800, Kentucky 98.150
Much better rotation when it came to landings! Both teams were able to either locate the landing and stick or keep them in control for the most part. LSU ties its highest bars score of the season from Sprouts and Kentucky gets above a 49 on vault for the third meet in a row. At the halfway point and things are about to get good!
Rotation 3: LSU BB, Kentucky FX
Coen (LSU): Front aerial to beat jump, nice straight legs in the air. BHS LOSO, floats right down the middle of the beam. Switch leap split jump, this angle is kind of hard to tell whether she hits the 180 position. RO double twist, some loose knees in the air, steps out of the landing to salute. 9.850
van Frayen (UK): Double tuck to open, nice chest position on the landing. Switch ring switch half, little low on the switch half. Front layout to 1.5, mistimed her punch a little bit but is able to pull it around. Solid opening, but I know the Wildcats will want to build on it. 9.775
Zeiss (LSU): Nice side aerial to open. Front aerial to BHS, bit of a knee bend on the aerial. Switch leap to split jump to the infamous double wolf turn (still not totally over that whole outburst, that was WILD). Solid so far, tucked gainer full with a step on the dismount. 9.825
Bennett (UK): Double pike to open, really controlled on that landing and step back. Switch ring to L turn full, really pretty toe point. Front layout front full, nice rise on the second skill. Double tuck to close, controlled on that landing, but had a bit of a low chest that will likely be deducted. 9.825
Drayton (LSU): Back in this lineup after hitting last week for a 9.925. BHS LOSO, solid on that landing. Switch leap to split jump, balance check on the full turn, really high on the double twist dismount with a tiny hop back. Methinks she might be in this lineup more often *takes notes for my fantasy team* 9.925
Gardner (UK): Big double layout to open, I saw some flexed feet in the air and loose knees with a slide back. Leap series looked good, front tuck through to double tuck, another slide back on the landing. 9.725
Lincoln (LSU): Front aerial to BHS, really pretty. Switch half to beat jump, a couple of tiny wobbles but works through it nicely. Switch leap to straddle quarter, easily above 180 on that split. BHS 1.5 dismount with a stick. That was a really good routine! 9.925, career high!
Rizo (UK): Double pike to open, pretty large slide back on the landing. Comes back with a double tuck, much more control on that landing. Switch half to straddle jump, could’ve used a little more amplitude. Back 1.5 to front layout, nicely done. Came back strong after the first tumbling pass! 9.725 with a 9.8/9.65 split. Okay, sure.
McClain (LSU): Following two big 9.900 plus scores. Beautiful form on the leap series, front aerial to BHS series is spot on. I almost forgot she struggled on beam a few weeks ago watching this routine. Lands on releve after the beat jump. Side gainer full with a stick…could it be…? Nope, it’s a 9.950. Sigh.
Rodriguez (UK): Rudi to back layout, solid landing on that opening tumbling pass. Nice rotation on the leap series! Double tuck second pass was stuck cold. Back 1.5 to whip half to straddle jump pass had some loose knees but nothing major. That should be the highest score for the Wildcats so far with Brose yet to go. 9.850
Chio (LSU): Her mount. That is all. BHS LOSO is clean, hits her full turn. Front aerial to split jump, nice 180 position on the split. Switch leap to split jump, really fluid in her connections. BHS 1.5 dismount with a stick. The judges don’t have much higher to go. And they do it, it’s a 10 for Chio!
Brose (UK): No clue what the first tumbling pass was, the screen cut away to Chio at that point. I really love this choreography though and I’m really happy she’s back. FHS front double full to close out a great floor rotation for the Wildcats! 9.900
AFTER THREE: LSU 148.450, Kentucky 147.225
LSU gets a season high on beam capped off with four scores of 9.900 plus, Chio’s first career 10 on beam, and the first 10 on beam in the country this season. That was crazy. Kentucky is quietly pushing towards a season high team score, but it HAS to hit a 47.225 plus on beam on the road with LSU going to its best event. The Tigers need a 49.550 to become the second team to hit 198 this year, a number they have yet to hit.
Rotation 4: Kentucky BB, LSU FX
Lee (UK): BHS and misses her back foot on the next skill and takes a really scary fall. Gets up and thank goodness she’s okay. Repeats the skill and nails it. I hate that for her because she has absolutely nailed this routine after the fall. RO 1.5 dismount with a step back and cheers from the PMAC faithful. 9.075
Innes (LSU): FHS front double full with a controlled step forward. Back 1.5 to a front layout, really nice rise on that second skill. Nice amplitude on the leap series, FHS Rudi to stag jump, big amplitude on that jump as well! 9.925
Rizo (UK): Missed a connection at the beginning, goes for the BHS LOSO and….a fall. What on earth is happening to Kentucky beam? Side aerial, takes another balance check. RO 1.5 with a step forward. This is really sad to watch. 9.075
Ballou (LSU): Double layout to open, little bit of loose knees in the air. Switch side straddle full wolf full, good rotation throughout. Not the biggest fan of the choreography, but she makes it look decent. Front layout front 1.5, bit of a low chest on that landing, but it was a solid hit! 9.900, career high.
Bennett (UK): BHS LO LOSO, had to save that second layout, it looked like her foot missed the beam but she stayed on — with a little bit of beam to spare! Switch leap beat jump, tiny tiny pause between skills, gainer pike dismount off the end with a stick. 9.825
Coen (LSU): FHS front double full to open, bit of a stutter on the landing, but stays upright. Front layout to front full was solid, nice rise between those skills. Leap series had big amplitude, solid way to end that routine! So far so good. 9.825
Brose (UK): Punch front, tiny leg lift on the landing. Maybe broke her connection on her series, will have to wait and see. RO 1.5 dismount with a big step forward. A hit routine that will only get better as she gets more reps! 9.825
Drayton (LSU): Really high double layout to open! Bit of a low chest though. Switch ring to switch half, easily above 180. Front tuck through to double tuck, takes the step back on the landing but after the rough opening to her season on floor, I’m so happy to see her hit. 9.900
van Frayen (UK): BHS Onodi series, she fell on it last week so I’m happy to see it stayed in and that she hit. Front aerial was absolutely gorgeous. Switch leap to beat jump, nice connection between skills. RO 1.5 dismount with a step forward.
Chio (LSU): One more routine to close out her night. Full-twisting double tuck to open, step forward on the landing. Switch ring to tour jete half, really nice split position. RO 2.5 twist to punch front to close it out, such a solid routine. A rousing 7.900 clinches the all-around for Chio.
Rodriguez (UK): Switch leap to split jump, back leg could’ve used a little more height. BHS BHS LOSO, spot on. Side somi was good, a stick secures a solid routine. RO 1.5 dismount and a stick! The Wildcats will count a fall, but it’s not three falls and that’s a pretty big deal. 9.925 gets Kentucky to a season high team score.
Lincoln (LSU): Lincoln needs a 9.900 to get LSU to 198. BIG height on that double layout to open! It gets me every time I see it. Switch leap to tour jete 1.5, her leaps are spot on, back 1.5 to front full, nailed. It could be enough to get LSU to 198 but we will see. 9.950 and that will clinch it.
FINAL: LSU 198.050, Kentucky 195.725
VT: Chio (LSU) – 9.950
UB: Blackson (LSU) – 9.950
BB: Chio (LSU) – 10.000
FX: Lincoln (LSU) – 9.950
AA: Chio (LSU) – 39.775
Ya know, after this first rotation, I really thought this meet might be a snooze fest, but both teams really dialed it up at the end of the meet. Kentucky avoids another major collapse on beam by only counting one fall versus three while LSU fought through last week’s floor struggle to become the second team on the day to hit 198. A good night, but still lots of improvements to be made.
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Live blog by Savanna Wellman
