We had a chance to peep in at the press conference going on as we type. Coach noted that "First of all we're extra happy to have made it to the Super Six. It never gets old. Our goal at the start of every season is to be on the floor the last night with a chance to win the national championship. I think we've redeemed ourselves from the SEC Championships."

On losing Raegan Tomasek at the beginning of tonight's session: "We talked about depth and to be prepared for what happened and they stepped up and did a wonderful job."

From Andree Pickens: "Well, we know our depth and our team. It was a shame to have lost Raegan but we have confidence in the seventh person and even the eighth and ninth."

Alabama got pumped up by the BamaNation, who were dancing in the stands to YMCA and they responded with the highest beam performance of the day, a 49.550 (four first team All Americans from bama on this event). Congratulations to freshman Shannon Hrozek, Jeana Rice, Kristin Sterner, and Andree Pickens and the major kudos have to go to sophomore Tiffany Byrd for stepping in for Raegan Tomasek and throwing her most solid routine ever for a 9.85. Also, Alexa Martinez took the lead off position and provided the Bama Nation with an awesome performance (9.85) to get things started on a positive note. Bama wins the session with a 197.300, UCLA at 197.100 and Stanford with a 196.05.

At this time it looks like Bama has a total of 11 first team All Americans (3 on floor; 2 on vault; 2 on bars; 4 on beam) and Andree and Jeana Rice are first team in the all around as well. Andree earns five 1st team all america honors and Jeana two.

Now please Bama fans, respond to this team's courage tonight by showing up in record numbers tomorrow night to cheer them on to hopefully their fourth national title. If this team ever needed you it is NOW! Roll Tide and goodnight from Coleman Coliseum.

and then went to the bars where they had their only struggle of the evening, specifically with landings on the dismounts. However, Natalie Barrington and Andree Pickens scored 9.85 (the judges were tight on bars all night) but still earned first team All America status. Andree had a scary moment on her Hindorff release, coming very close to the bar and just over arching one of her handstands back to the low bar, hence her lower score but she rocked the dismount and the pride on her face was electrifying!

Bama tightened their bootstraps after Raegan was lost for the preliminary meet and the steady back ups were moved into action! On the floor exercise (following a bye) Bama was fueled by the high energy of the crowd and posted a 49.450 with great routines by all of our ladies, especially Kristin Sterner, Alexis Brion and Andree Pickens.

On the vault, we had a great lead-off posted by Erin Holdefer who rocked her landing of the front pike for a 9.85 and Jeana Rice followed with a great Yurchenko full twist for a 9.875. Brion and Pickens had strong vaults for a 9.90 each. Sterner was kept out of the line-up because she was experiencing some difficulty pushing off the vault (hand placement was not consistent). Lauren Holdefer stepped in for a 9.70 that was dropped and Stephanie Kite threw her pike 1/2 twist and landed it well for a 9.75.

Boy, what a roller coaster evening it has been. First, we arrive to watch the Tide warming up (long warmups) on the vault and see Raegan Tomasek crunch her ankles on a pike 1/2 twist vault! Ouch! She was removed for observation and the word up is that she is walking (she chatted briefly with us at the end) but is sore. Don't know until tomorrow what her status will be. Next, we move to the competition itself.....