ST. LOUIS, Missouri - For the fifth time in six seasons and the seventh time in school history, the No. 2 LSU gymnastics team advanced to the NCAA Super Six finals after the Tigers took down four teams in the first NCAA semifinal and posted a score of 197.475 Friday afternoon in Chaifetz Arena.
The Tigers improved to 31-2 and their team scored marked the second highest at an NCAA semifinal in school history. UCLA took the top spot with a 197.5625, and Nebraska was the third team to advance out of the first semifinal with a 197.0125.
LSU will go for its first NCAA title in gymnastics at 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPNU. The Tigers' rotation will be feature a bye, then bars, beam, bye, floor and vault.
Myia Hambrick, Kennedi Edney and Sarah Finnegan turned in outstanding all-around performances to finish second, third and fourth respectively, Friday. Hambrick scored a 39.5375, Edney totaled a 39.525 and Finnegan put up a 39.500.
“The environment today was fabulous, and I am proud of the performance,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux, who is in her 41st season. “Reagan Campbell’s performance was the pivotal point to go in on beam and not blink. Then after each bye, they brought a little more for each event. We just have to go in Saturday and do our gymnastics."
The Tigers opened with a strong showing on the beam for a 49.2250. Senior Erin Macadaeg led off with a solid 9.8125, and Hambrick had a 9.8625. Edney added a 9.80 in the third spot, and after a fall, freshman Reagan Campbell showed no fear with a 9.85 before Finnegan anchored the event with a huge routine, 9.90.
LSU moved to the floor and posted the highest score with a 49.400. Ashlyn Kirby opened with a 9.80, and freshman Christina Desiderio rebounded from the first rotation to post a career-high 9.8875. Edney recorded a 9.90 in the fourth spot, and Finnegan stepped in with a 9.8625. To cap off the second rotation, Hambrick performed a near-flawless routine and scored a 9.95.
Freshman Sarah Edwards notched a 9.85 in the lead vault spot. The Tigers used a 9.875 from Hambrick and 9.8875s from Julianna Cannamela and Edney. After the lights flickered during her vault, Finnegan was allowed to compete again in the anchor spot. The junior recorded a 9.85 to close out the fourth rotation before the bye and finalized the LSU score at 49.350.
The Tigers left no doubts on the bars and scored a 49.500 for the highest score at an NCAA Championships in school history in the final rotation. To lead off, freshman Sami Durante recorded a solid routine to earn a 9.8625. Ruby Harrold found her landing in the third spot for a 9.90, and Edney posted the No. 2 score with a beautiful routine for a score of 9.9375. Priessman followed with the No. 3 score of 9.9125 with her big routine. To cap the final rotation and put the Tigers into the Super Six, Finnegan scored a 9.8875.