LSU’s gymnastics team knows what to expect going down the home stretch of the season from senior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney and junior Susan Jackson, who rank Nos. 3 and 5 respectively nationally in the all-around.But it’s junior Summer Hubbard’s recent performance that has the helped the Tigers peak at the right time heading into the final few meets.”The next three meets are about building. It’s all about our first few people going out and being solid to build up to the end of our lineup,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “Summer being able to stay strong in the middle of our lineup is crucial to set up the end.”The first stop on the final stretch is Saturday at the Southeastern Conference Championships in Nashville, Tenn.The No. 4 Tigers (13-2, 4-2) have posted six straight victories and are coming off a season-high road score of 196.650 that pushed their regional qualifying score average up to a 196.760.The team has jumped from No. 11 to No. 4 nationally – their highest ranking since heading into the SECs in 2007 – in just two weeks, thanks in part to Hubbard’s recent performances.Hubbard catapulted herself into the top 20 nationally on the beam with a regional qualifying score of 9.870 after posting two 9.90s or higher in the past three meets.Hubbard said she doesn’t worry about her national ranking.”Beam is a challenging event, so I just think about conquering it,” Hubbard said.Hubbard is also tied at No. 38 nationally on bars with a regional qualifying score of 9.850 after tying season highs of 9.90 in the last two meets. She has posted four straight season-high scores of 9.875 on the floor in the Tigers’ last four meets.”It’s helpful to have that good of a score in the beginning or middle of the lineup because that sets everything up for Ashleigh and me,” Jackson said.But the Tigers will need a total team effort if they plan to capture the title this weekend.All seven gymnastics teams in the SEC are ranked in the top 25, with six teams in the top 11 nationally. That includes No. 1 Georgia, which has already posted a 198.200 this season.To put that in perspective, LSU’s school record is a 197.850 in 2005 at Oklahoma.Georgia also has the No. 1 all-around gymnast in the nation in senior Courtney Kupets, who won bronze on the bars as a member of USA’s 2004 Olympic team.Clare-Kearney said she doesn’t fixate on who she is competing against because there is no defense in gymnastics.”The only thing I can control is what I do,” she said. “I need to make sure I put myself in the best mental and physical situation I can so I can compete to my maximum potential.”Clare-Kearney also said LSU has yet to peak and has a great shot at capturing the crown tomorrow.”This is a great opportunity for us to go out there and show what we are capable of,” Clare-Kearney said. “Everyone expects Georgia to win, so they’ve got a burden on their shoulders that we don’t have.”_____Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]