Tide advances to final round

ATHENS, Ga. | University of Alabama fans who made the trip to the NCAA Championships can make up a new sign for Friday’s Super Six, which will determine the national team title: “Welcome Back.”

After failing to qualify for the final round a year ago, the first time in a decade, Alabama rebounded from a mediocre start on the beam this afternoon, and joined rivals Florida and LSU atop the standings of the SEC-dominated afternoon preliminary at Stegeman Coliseum on the University of Georgia campus.

Florida placed first with a final score of 196.900. With a strong performance on the uneven parallel bars during the final rotation, Alabama (196.650) snared second from LSU (196.575).

Failing to advance were Oklahoma, Arkansas and Oregon State.

Georgia, Utah, UCLA, Stanford, Michigan and Denver were set to compete in Session II on Thursday evening, and complete the Super Six field.

Although Casey Overtun got Alabama off to a good start with a 9.825 on the beam, it ended up being the Tide’s highest score in the event. Alabama, which scored 48.850, had one fall, Ashley O’Neal on her dismount, but she also had to wait quite a while for the judges to post the previous scores to begin her routine.

However, O’Neal came back to spark the Tide in the third rotation, when everyone hit their floor routines and scored 9.8 or better, with Morgan Dennis scoring a team-high 9.95.

With Florida struggling somewhat on the beam, Alabama continued to ride its momentum with strong performances on the vault, with Kayla Hoffman anchoring the Tide with a 9.90 to help close the gap to second.

But when Alabama was enjoying its final bye, Florida had the session’s best showing of the day on the floor, with four 9.90s or better, to all but lock up first place.

Alabama trailed LSU by .475 heading into the final rotation, with LSU on the beam and the Tide on the bars. Kassi Price’s 9.925, and Dennis’s 9.0 helped the Tide land in second, while the Tigers struggled.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanewss.com or at

205-722-0196.