LSU Gymnastics Returns Home to Face Undefeated Penn State in Non-Conference Showdown
After a stretch of road meets and SEC battles, the No. 3 LSU Tigers are back in Baton Rouge, and the timing couldn’t be better.
With a break from conference competition this week, LSU gets a rare opportunity to regroup, reset, and refocus-this time in front of a packed PMAC crowd as they host No. 14 Penn State tonight at 7:30 p.m.
CT.
And while the meet won’t count in the SEC standings, don’t mistake it for a throwaway. There’s a lot on the line for LSU-not just in terms of rankings, but in building depth and momentum for the stretch run of the season.
A Look Back-and a Look Ahead
LSU enters tonight’s meet riding the high of a narrow 197.675-197.500 win at Missouri. That score might not have been without its share of debate, but the Tigers got the job done on the road, and now they return home with a chance to sharpen their routines in a lower-pressure environment.
Penn State, however, brings a bit of intrigue. The Nittany Lions are one of just four teams in the nation still undefeated, sitting at 4-0 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten action.
This meet marks a rare non-conference battle between two programs that haven’t faced off since 2010, when LSU edged Penn State at the Northeast Regional to punch their ticket to nationals. The last regular-season meeting?
That came all the way back in 2007, when LSU took down Penn State in Baton Rouge.
Historically, the Tigers trail the all-time series 16-17, largely due to losing their first 12 matchups during Penn State’s heyday in the late '70s and early '80s. But LSU has dominated the more recent meetings and holds a 7-2 record against Penn State at home.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
Penn State comes into this meet ranked 14th in the nation, but that number deserves a closer look. Their season-best score of 197.250 against Maryland on January 24th is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in their average. Outside of that meet, their scores have hovered around the 196.2 mark-solid, but not elite.
They’re currently ranked:
- 18th on vault (49.031)
- 8th on bars (49.244)
- 14th on beam (49.075)
- 18th on floor (49.131)
That bars ranking jumps off the page, and it’s no coincidence-it’s also the event where they posted a 49.450 against Maryland. Floor was similarly impressive that night with a 49.475, but both scores stand out as outliers compared to the rest of their season.
Depth is a concern for this squad. The Nittany Lions lost eight NQS routines from last season due to graduation and injuries, including key contributors like Cassi Barbanente, Gabrielle Gallentine, and Elina Vihrova.
They brought in Minnesota transfer Marisa Fisher, but she has yet to see action, leaving freshman Ava Cash as the only newcomer consistently in the lineup. Cash has been a steady presence on vault and bars, but beyond that, this is a team leaning heavily on its veterans.
Their top performers so far have been Ava Piedrahita (vault, bars) and Kalea McElligott (beam, floor)-each competing in just two events, but making them count.
Head coach Sarah Brown is in her ninth season leading the program, with Ralph Rosso and Lynnzee Brown rounding out the coaching staff.
What This Meet Means for LSU
Let’s be clear: LSU is the heavy favorite tonight. Ranked third in the country and boasting top-five rankings on three events-bars (3rd, 49.463), beam (3rd, 49.444), and vault (5th, 49.269)-the Tigers have the firepower to cruise past Penn State if they hit their routines.
But this meet is about more than just the scoreboard. With no SEC points on the line, LSU has the rare luxury of experimenting a bit-specifically with exhibition routines.
These don’t count toward the team total, but they’re invaluable for building depth and giving gymnasts a taste of competition under the lights. LSU only gets two chances all season to use exhibitions (the other being the Podium Challenge in March), so expect the coaching staff to take full advantage.
That said, the Tigers still need a strong showing in the official lineups. With Oklahoma and Florida breathing down their necks in the national rankings, LSU will likely need to average around a 198.000 over the next two meets to stay in the hunt for a top seed heading into postseason.
The PMAC Factor
There’s no place like home, and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center has become one of the most electric venues in college gymnastics. Expect over 13,000 fans to pack the building tonight-and not just for the routines. The first 1,000 fans through the doors will receive a Haleigh Bryant bobblehead, and if past giveaways are any indication, you’ll want to line up early.
With the crowd behind them, a chance to showcase new talent, and a top-15 opponent on the floor, this meet checks all the boxes for LSU. It’s not just another Friday night-it’s another step in the Tigers’ journey toward a potential third straight SEC title and a deep postseason run.
So whether you’re in the stands or streaming on SECN+, buckle up. This one might not have championship implications, but it has all the ingredients of a meet that matters-for the rankings, for the roster, and for the road ahead.