Junior all-around Sarie Morrison vaulted for the first perfect 10 of her career as the No. 7 LSU gymnastics team defeated No. 20 Arkansas 196.825-195.625 in the PMAC on Friday night.
Morrison captured her eighth and ninth individual titles of the season, as she tallied a 9.90 on uneven bars to go along with her perfect score and individual title on vault. Morrison did her part in helping the Tigers (8-2, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) secure all but one individual title, as Arkansas’ freshman all-around Sydnie Dillard won beam with a 9.850.
“I think [Morrison’s perfect 10] was very deserved,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “…That vault was just so dynamic and so high, and it’s so stretched out. Her lines were so perfect. When she stuck it, I think it was pretty inevitable that it would be a 10.”
Morrison’s perfect mark comes a week after sophomore all-around Lloimincia Hall pulled off a flawless floor routine at Missouri. Prior to Hall’s performance last week, no LSU gymnast had boasted a perfect routine since 2009.
Sophomore all-around Rheagan Courville brought home her fifth all-around title of 2013 with a 39.525, and junior all-around Kaleigh Dickson came in second with a 39.250. Hall dazzled on floor once again with a high-energy routine that garnered a 9.950 from the judges.
The Tigers dominated their routines early and often, as they posted 11 scores of 9.850 or better. LSU outscored Arkansas (1-5, 0-5 SEC) on every routine except beam, and the Razorbacks were never within six-tenths of a point of the LSU lead.
Friday’s meet brought an end to a month-long road trip for the Tigers, and Breaux said she thought the home crowd had a positive effect on her gymnasts.
“They put a lot of energy into their performances tonight,” Breaux said.
