Olivia Dunne scores career-high 9.9 with sensational floor routine after being subbed on LAST MINUTE for LSU as Tigers book place in Regional Finals
- Olivia Dunne filled in for Kiya Johnson to anchor the Tigers during floor exercises
- LSU and second-seeded Minnesota advance to the NCAA Regionals
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Olivia Dunne scored a 9.90 despite being called up to anchor the LSU Tigers on short notice in floor exercise.
On Thursday, the Tigers won the second round of the NCAA women’s gymnastics regionals, with a score of 197.80, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The victory sealed their ticket to the NCAA Regionals on Saturday.
In a competition against BYU, Oregon State and No. 15 Minnesota, Dunne came on for Kiya Johnson in the final minute to anchor a remarkable team performance.
“We ultimately pulled Kiya, not because of anything in particular,” head coach Jay Clark said. “We knew the meeting was close and we had to go easy on her body.”
LSU posted one of the highest scores on floor, with every gymnast scoring a 9.90 or higher. Junior Aleah Finnegan led the team with a perfect 10.
Olivia Dunne scored a 9.90 on floor exercises for LSU after being hired on short notice
Dunne filled in for Kiya Johnson as the Tigers won the second round of the NCAA Regionals
Freshmen Amari Drayton and Konnor McClain each scored 9.90. KJ Johnson followed with a 9.95. After Finnegan’s 10-point routine, Haleigh Bryant scored a 9.95.
“Floor is kind of our signature,” Clark said. “I knew if they could finish that event, it would propel them into the next day.”
The Tigers uncharacteristically got off to a slow start on the vault, finishing second in their first rotation. Johnson, Finnegan, Drayton and Savannah Schoenherr started with 9.850s before Chase Brock took LSU’s first 9.90 of the line. Bryant anchored with a 9.925.
After their floor exercises, the Tigers moved on to uneven bars, where Ashley Cowan led with a score of 9.90.
After the second rotation of the match, LSU led with a score of 148.075. BYU and Oregon State were ranked second and third, respectively. Nevertheless, they managed to maintain a lead for the victory and advance to Saturday’s meeting with second-place Minnesota.
“I’m very happy,” Clark said. “This whole thing is just to get here and get to the next day.”
“They came in here and adapted,” Clark said. “They should be very calm when we come back here on Saturday.”