The LSU gymnastics squad posted a 196.550 on Friday to place sixth in its semifinal pool at the NCAA Championships in Duluth, Ga., failing to advance to the Super Six Finals.
The score, good for ninth overall, was the third-highest for LSU (14-17) in 23 appearances at the national meet. Alabama won its sixth championship with a score of 197.850, and Florida freshman Kytra Hunter scored a 39.725 to win the national all-around title.
“I thought it was a tremendous team effort,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “It was a great experience and good competition, and this team will walk away with a lot of lessons learned. … But I don’t want to come to nationals for the experience, I want to come and advance.”
Freshman Rheagan Courville was the lone Tiger to advance, moving on to the Individual Event Finals in vault on Sunday with her score of 9.925 in pool competition. She scored a 9.7313 to place seventh overall in the event. 
Her original vault tally, along with her pool-leading, all-around score of 39.475, garnered First-Team All-America honors. 
“I’m so happy that I will be able to take this learning
experience with me,” Courville said. “I hope that I can use this nationals as a starting point to get even better for next year.”
Three other Tigers won Second-Team All-America honors. Senior Ashley Lee tied for fifth on vault with a score of 9.90 for her second career All-America on the apparatus, while sophomore Sarie Morrison and freshman Lloimincia Hall both won the honor by scoring a 9.875 to tie for sixth on bars and place fifth on floor, respectively.
LSU started out on the wrong foot after posting a 48.950 on the uneven bars, the lowest score recorded on a single event by any team in their pool. Freshman Jessie Jordan was limited to the balance beam due to multiple injuries, and Breaux said the team missed her more than anticipated.
Her replacement was junior transfer Britney Taylor, who hadn’t yet competed for LSU. Taylor marked a 9.775 as the leadoff performer.
On their next event, the Tigers tied their nationals-best 49.250 on the balance beam. Sophomore Kaleigh Dickson set a career high on the event, and junior Ericka Garcia tied her own best, both scoring 9.85. 
Lee set a career high on the floor in her final meet, contributing a 9.85 to the team’s score of 49.100. The team closed on vault with a 49.250. 
While Breaux’s team didn’t meet her goal of reaching the Super Six, the performance has the long-time coach anticipating the future. 
“This team has nothing to hang its head about,” Breaux said. “These kids are leaving with their pride and integrity intact. … They know we’re going to be greater, later. We’re going to be a really good team.”
 
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