For the first time in 2014, the Gators tasted defeat.
No. 3 UF (7-1, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) suffered a 197.675 to 197.400 loss to No. 4 Alabama (8-3, 6-1 SEC) on Friday.
“I’m happy we didn’t completely melt down,” coach Rhonda Faehn said. “It’s not 100 percent what we are capable of.”
Friday’s loss is Florida’s first in almost year with its last defeat coming against Utah on March 16. Despite the loss, UF’s score was not the lowest the team recorded this season. The Gators scored slightly lower overall against Kentucky, Auburn and their lowest score of the season was a 196.65 against UCLA on the road.
“We came away with a very solid road score,” Faehn said. “It will push our athletes to get back in the gym and work a little bit harder.”
It was a close meet up until the very last event, with ties for first place through the first three rotations. Bridget Sloan was the only gymnast to win an event without a tie thanks to her 9.950 on vault.
Though Florida’s four all arounders secured the first through fourth place spots, with Sloan claiming the No. 1 all around (39.500), Faehn said she felt her team missed some needed points.
“I didn’t think we attacked as aggressively as possible,” Faehn said. “Some really phenomenal routines, but overall, we left a lot of tenths on the competition floor.”
Alabama claimed wins on beam and floor, while the two teams tied on vault and uneven bars. Faehn said UF’s struggles and wobbles on beam were uncharacteristic mistakes from what she believes is one of the best beam teams in the country.
“We were a little timid starting out on bars,” Faehn said. “It’s a different kind of pressure on the road.”
After scoring a 10 during Florida’s last away meet against Kentucky, Sloan received an uncharacteristically low score of 9.700 on beam. Friday night’s loss was the first time since Jan. 24, when Sloan and Kytra Hunter put up two 10s on floor, that Florida did not log a perfect score.
“I really feel this was a very strong positive for us,” Faehn said. “The major positive is their eyes are open.”
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Bridget Sloan performs on the balance beam during Florida’s win against Georgia on Jan. 24 in the O’Connell Center.
