for the LSU Tigers next week. Roll Tide! Bama wins it 195.975 to ISU's 193.750.

They were impressive on the beam and especially the floor and just need to polish up their form on bars and vault to get the scores up on these events. Floor music and choreography along with strong tumbling should keep them in the mix for the regionals and NCAA qualification down the road.

beaming with pride over her performance tonight because she has worked super hard during the off-season. Looking for bigger scores from her in the coming weeks.

Terin Humphrey is next for the interview with Chad and Leesa. Wonder what she has to say about her first meet in front of 9,885 rowdy but supportive fans? We think she loved it because they sure loved her performance on the bars tonight, especially the Khorkina release (lots of gasps) and the super double layout dismount.

Well, that was a whopping two point improvement for the Tide over last week's opening score.

As we've noted they have much to work on still in the gym regarding the balance beam execution (a need to attack their routines and complete the moves primarily) but it looked like it was first home meet jitters and nerves tonight more than anything that led to this because they were super confident last week.

Hopefully the ladies will work this out before next week because it obviously gets much tougher and there will not be much room for error against the feisty Tigers of LSU.

39.150: Dana Filetti (UA) in 3rd Place

39.175: Janet Anson (ISU) in 2nd Place

39.400: Ashley Miles (UA) in 1st Place

ISU has Powell in 3rd, Anson in 2nd and 1st Ashley Alden.

Floor: Anson in 3rd, Brion in 2nd and Miles in 1st.

Vault: Janet Anson, Shannon Hrozek and Dana Filetti (3rd)

Alexis Brion (2nd)

Ashley Miles (1st)

Bars: Filetti, Miles, (2nd)

Terin Humphrey (1st)

She just mesmerized this home town audience for one minute and 30 seconds with tumbling and dance moves only she can bring. And she returned with her seat drop-down before the final pass. A 9.95 for sheer perfection. Watch it on the replay, you won't be disappointed. Opening pass of a huge double layout, stuck cold, followed by front-front full-front layout, again landed on a dime, no step to balance. She finishes with a double pike and also threw very nice full turn (leg extended) to a double tuck jump combination for bonus dance.

Anson and a 9.825 from Alden.

WOW! Whip to bhs to super high double pike, one step forward to check the landing. The Ten Troupe shows their appreciation with a hearty roar and the second pass is just as solid (back handspring-whip 1/2 to front full-front punch)and she ends with a front-front layout-front tuck for a 9.90. Awesome!

ISU so we hope to have these later for you. Mari Bayer opens with a beautiful double pike, small step of one foot back only and she nails the second pass of a front-front full-front tuck as well as the double twist. Beautiful dance and expression throughout, including the ring leap that has become her signature move on floor. The crowd really likes this one as well and she receives strong applause.

front tuck, no stumbles this week on the landing. Music is by Sanatana and she finishes with a high double tuck, another stuck landing. The crowd erupts and Judge Padron responds with a smile as she throws her last dance move at him for emphasis. Gotcha! Filetti received a 9.80 for her floor routine and Hrozek gets a 9.850. Hmmmm.

of their moves, including toe point and extension, but we like the difficulty they are throwing. Dethloff just threw a front pike mount (super solid in form and landing) but suffers from balance checks on almost every move that followed, which included a bhs-layout and a punch front; she dismounts with a Rudi, one step on the landing.

and Filetti is showing off with her stuck double pike to open and a very difficult round off whip half to front full-front full. Groovy music and the moonwalk electrify the Ten Troupe before she moves into her final pass (more front tumbling hidden by the vault table, sorry!) and she finishes with a flash of the hands to the judges. Nice routine!

flight series (bhs-layout) and a nice switch leap-switch leap-wolf combination (she favors Shannon Hrozek in body appearance).

and the second pass of a double twist is landed confidently as well. Nice dance and expression on each move in between, highlighted by a switch leap full to wolf full. She finishes with a front-front full to front pike, another solid landing. The crowd really likes this routine, music from Tomb Raider.

Senior Abigail Richey is up first for ISU and completes a confident routine, ending with a running front full.

and the Tide will have to stand up some huge routines to put this one away. So no falls or stumbles out of bounds allowed ladies.

fall but this is definitely not where the Tide needs to be to compete with LSU, Florida and the other tough opponents on their schedule this year. Iowa State is simply having an off night on the vault and bars and otherwise would be pushing the Crimson Tide mightily at this juncture, so more work is needed in the gym to get this score up considerably. Bama has the skills and the difficulty, they just need to attack and finish the moves more aggressively.

jitters out of her system apparently. She is usually one of the Tide's most dependable workers on the beam. It might be the anchor position that she is not totally comfortable with and just needs more reps. But she came through on the bars tonight in terrific fashion.

Michelle Reeser is exhibiting for the Tide. She misses her Korbut swing-down (bhs-layout-Korbut) while executing her flight series but hops back on to throw her switch leap to wolf before working down onto the beam with a nice cartwheel half. She throws a straddle-straddle leap but stops after the second element, slight balance check. Dismount of a round off to gainer full twist off the side.

and does not do the Korbut for a second week in a row. She actually wobbled on the landing of the second element and bent forward and to the side to keep from falling. She also bends at the waist on the very difficult tour j'ete but completes her leap series (switch leap-straddle-wolf) with very nice amplitude and nails her dismount of the gainer back pike.

a 9.75). The higher score perhaps put more emphasis on the difficulty of the routine in the final analysis.

round off layout-step-out (windmilled the arms to stay on). Nice leap series of a switch leap-switch leap 1/4 combination and the wolf full. A flight series of a gainer back handspring to layout. Small checks here and there but nothing major. She dismounts with a double tuck, one step on the landing. This should score close to last week's routine because she again struggled to hold onto that mount landing and the small checks elsewhere will cost her.

routine with no major deductions but she will lose some points for a balance check on her Korbut swing down and a small hop on the landing of her double twist. The flight series was terrific (handstand to immediate layout) and the leap series was more confident this week (straddle-straddle-wolf).

this event as Powell throws a double pike to open (slide back slightly on the landing) and a double tuck for her second. Either Santana or Esteban music is being played. We think the former. She finishes with a whip half to front full out of a front handspring.

switch leap to wolf (slight hesitation only on the entry this week) and she completes the hitch kick to sheep jump with nice panache. She has a tiny balance check that then causes her to bend slightly at the waist as she put her foot back on the end of the beam to prepare for her dismount, so this will be deducted accordingly.

She dismounts with a double twist, one step to the left again this week on the landing. Otherwise a solid routine. We need three more!

opening pass of a high double pike, solid landing. A little classical from Bond mixed with rock (Led Zeppelin). Nice presentation (finishes with a front full-front full). Erin Rightley receives a 9.250 for her beam routine.

Erin Rightley just fell on the third element of her flight series (layout) and is now back on and through her switch leap-switch leap-Korbut combination, nice. Her leap series of a straddle-straddle-wolf is super solid and she nails the dismount of a back handspring to gainer full twist off the side. Excellent recovery. Hopefully we can drop this score.

followed by a second pass of a Rudi layout-stepout. Great music (Big Band) and she ends with a front-front full-front full.

major according to Tony Giles. Nice wolf full, slight check on the landing, beautiful bhs-layout and the wolf to Korbut swingdown is completed with no problems, followed by the switch leap half. Some nice work down on the beam and extra dance, before she nails the gainer back pike dismount. A little nervous in some of her elements compared to last week's super confident routine but this is the first time she has opened for the home crowd on beam. Small checks will be deducted here and there. Perfect landing however of the gainer back pike off the end of the beam.

band breaks into Andree3000's favorite song. Boy those fans can dance pretty well with tubas.

front, way cool. We'll get her name in a moment.

Bama's running total at this juncture is 98.150 and Iowa State's is 95.90.

and Kaitlin nailed her double tuck dismount chest high with a big smile of relief. Bryan high fives her as the gals move to the next event. She threw the Gienger release out of a full turn and a Pak Salto transition to the low bar. Dana Pierce also nailed her release move (Tkatchev) and the inverted giants before dismounting with a reverse tuck off the high bar, one step on the landing.

only for the tiny hop on her double layout dismount because the rest of the routine was awesome. Toe on 1/2 turn to Khorkina release (also known as a Markelov) followed by a handstand to needle position on the high bar, a 1/2 turn to full pirouette (exquisite precision)to transition to handstand on the low bar. Only one giant full before dismounting with the double layout. The crowd really loved it and showed their approval with several standing ovations around the arena.

last week's problems. She receives a 9.825 but the routine was much better than this score indicates. Pike Jaeger release out of a 1/2 turn on the high bar, excellent transition to the low bar this week to handstand position and a full turn to double tuck dismount, stuck the landing.

and now a beautiful Yurchenko 1/1 by Anson receives a 9.775 (very limited distance from the vault but terrific form).

Shaposhnikova and then a Hindorff release before landing the double layout with great distance, one step back to check. The crowd is getting into it big time, pumping the girls up to keep their performances at a high level. She receives a 9.85.

What a beautiful routine, highlighted by an incredible full turn to Gienger release (perfect form this week) and the best dismount since the West Regional (double front, stuck solid). Wow Part II. She receives a 9.85. She cowboyed the dismount a bit but nailed it.

Shannon Hrozek again struggles just a bit on her giant uprise mount but completed her routine with no further difficulty for a 9.75. She threw a full turn to Gienger release and for now is dismounting with a front giant 1/2 to another giant 1/2 to double tuck, small step on the landing. She always throws this dismount with both saltos above the high bar.

to be a pretty good vault initially so we'll check the replay. She appeared to land it without much distance achieved and she stepped forward on the landing but her score still seems very low.

Fantastic uneven bars routine this week, nailing her handstands and the super Tkatchev release, along with the reverse salto over the high bar to a terrific chest high landing. Kvach received a 9.50 for her vault.

Yurchenko 1/1 vault, similar to Dana Pierce's in performance, landing it off to the left and forward.

gives it one last go with a super double layout (hearty clapping by the Tide faithful in attendance).

score high. Just look at Ashley's on the replay this weekend on ACN and see what even a perfect-appearing vault gets from the judges. It's not perfect unless they say so.

for the Tide and she confirmed with a confident nod as they chalk up.

Beautiful dismount on the bars by Alexis Brion just then. We need that tonight from the Virginia Beach, Virginia senior.

than last week. Let's hope we can keep improving with the next event, which was Bama's nemesis last week.

layout (full twist included) so the Cyclones will have to count two routines with falls in them.

She receives a 9.925. We're impressed with these judges, they're keeping it real.

a 9.775. Alexis Brion just boomed her vault and the crowd erupts. They don't like her score however, a 9.85. We don't either, ha ha.

Iowa State's Powell received a 9.70 on bars and Jade Kvach falls on her release and they will have to count a fall apparently.

struggled during the transition to the low bar to stay on and almost stopped on the release re-grasp. Double tuck dismount landed pretty well.

she fell on her straddle Jaeger release. Lasher received a 9.625 (first one up) and Janet Anson received a 9.75 for a solid routine to follow.

of the Yurchenko 1/1, tiny step almost in place on the landing but she receives a 9.775 (did the judges look at last week's scores???). This also matches her score from last week. Perhaps she was off again to the left of the vault table on landing?

and Dana Pierce lands her Yurchenko 1/1 low and forward, so another major deduction this week. She was really striving to maintain her form on this vault but is either not running hard enough or blocking straight up and back off the vault table strong enough to complete the full twist in the air, hence the lunging step forward. She receives another 9.525 score this week.

has a reverse Hecht (Tkatchev release) and some nice turns on the high bars and dismounts with a double tuck. This routine needed to rotate much faster than it did but she completed all of the elements and should score with no major deductions.

landing this week, one tiny step back of her right foot. Beautiful height and distance.

Erin Rightley, Dana Pierce, Shannon Hrozek, Dana Filetti, Alexis Brion, and Ashley Miles.

Iowa State is decked out in a red-orange and white shiny metallic leo with lots of contrasting swirls (one side is primarily red-orange and the opposite a bright white).

Alabama is in almost a grayish-silver white metallic and deep crimson flame leo (velveteen on the bottom half of the leo and up along the left arm) with lots of shiny sequins etching along the lines of the flames.

They are moving the mats in place for the bars and vault and the air is clearing from the fireworks. The Ten Troupe gang are fighting over the name cards of our gymnasts and one guy leapt into the air as he secured Kaitlin's card.

The "kiss" cam is going well and the fans are loving it! What a great way to get the crowd into it early. Just wait until the UA-Auburn Meet in February around Valentine's Day. We'll all be wearing pink on that day for the Breast Cancer Awareness promotional.

flair and they receive a huge roar of approval from the crowd. Let's get this meet started Bama Nation!

years and Elvis is in the house! He wants a little less conversation and more Tide victories! Now the Tide's signature entry music (Alan Parsons Project) plays as the gals run out to greet their fans. Great support shown for the gals for this opening home meet.

Michelle Reeser is introduced (perfect 4.0 GPA this past fall), followed by Jessie Silver, then Terin Humphrey (huge roar by the crowd as she is introduced as the USA's two-time silver medalist from the 2004 Olympics). Alexis Brion (5 time All America), Dana Filetti, Rachael Delahoussaye (Scholastic All America), Shannon Hrozek (All America and Scholastic All America), Erin Rightley (Academic All SEC), Meredith Laxton (Scholastic All America), Kaitlin White (WOGA phenom), Mari Bayer (All America and Scholastic All America) and Ashley Miles (biggest roar as Tony tries to get all of her honors out in one breath). Roll Tide!

The Cyclones are very young, mostly sophomores and freshmen with 3 juniors and only 1 senior. KJ Kindler is the head coach.

Our cheerleaders, along with the Million Dollar Band are entertaining the Tide faithful. They break into "Yeah Alabama" and the Ten Troupe is on their collective feet, saluting the band with their shakers. It's time for the Main Event!

Vault: Catherine Batsche and Paul Padron

Bars: Donna Trevethan (Brevet)and Evelyn Chandler (Brevet)

Beam: Evelyn Chandler and Catherine Batsche

Floor: Paul Padron and Donna Trevethan

Batsche and Chandler were at the Super Six Challenge.

and uneven bars. They are throwing some difficult dismounts, including a full twisting double layout. We did not see their beam warm-ups but their floor routines are always creative and exciting to view.

them ready for some great gymnastics tonight. Everybody loves the Kill Bill I and II music, which is playing now as the girls move into their tumbling passes and leaps.

Showtime in 15 minutes.

and will be exiting to the locker rooms. The coaches have a final chat with the gals before letting them go. The crowd is filling in very nicely and we have 15 minutes to go. The Ten Troupe is pumped!

We love her new music and routine and she seems to dig it too.

The Tide has great depth on the floor and this is a chance to get everyone out there with some terrific routines.

A big roar emits from the crowd as Michelle Reeser's music starts (Sweet Home Alabama) and she sells the practice routine for the Ten Troupe members present.

Pierce is matching her with her opening double pike as well.

Terin is dancing along with Brion's moves on floor and then she, Kaitlin and Rachael break into the chicken dance in perfect symmetry. Looks like they were practicing that one for awhile.

Dana F., Mari, Alexis, Erin, Dana P., Ashley, Michelle, Shannon warming up. Shannon will do the all around along with Filetti and Miles tonight.

We need more confidence on that switch leap to wolf jump. Filtti stuck her double twist dismount. Michelle Reeser is showing confidence with her bhs-layout-Korbut (back swingdown) and Ashley just threw a terrific double tuck dismount.

back handspring to two layouts. Ashley's mount of a roundoff to layout-stepout was shaky at first but is now solid. Terin Humphrey is throwing a switch leap to Miller combination. Super.

compete on this event tonight. She is doing her timers for the double tuck dismount.

will be in the start-off position. Dana Pierce is expected to exhibit tonight as well.

tips. She is not in the line-up tonight on this event but will likely do exhibition as she continues to increase her conditioning for an optimal performance level.

release (also known as a Marklelov)and a hop full. She will dismount with a double layout.

Mari, Ashley, Terin, Kaitlin, Shannon, Dana Filetti, Dana Pierce and Alexis Brion are warming up. Very nice dismount from Filetti, she has more control and extension is tighter this year on the giants and full turns. Terin just completed a basic timer that looked like a complete routine, she finishes every move so elegantly. Beautiful double layout dismount, stuck cold.

Mari is looking solid so far with her pike Jaeger and a perfect full turn to awesome stuck double tuck! Bryan is pointing his finger at her with a huge grin, likely telling her to do it just like that or else!

Ashley Miles is supreme in her Yurchenko full twists and Shannon has corrected her entry onto the vault table and landed in the center that time.

throwing the layout out of a Yurchenko timer with beautiful height. Will she twist it this week and go for the gusto? Very nice vault from Dana Pierce, kept her form throughout the full twist and landed it much better as a result. Shannon likes the right side of the landing mat and the coaches are cueing her on ways to straighten it up and land more in the center.

- the 2005 home opener between the Tide and the Iowa State Cyclones.

Bama is on the vault for the 15 minute long warm-up and the Cyclones are on the bars. Mari, Dana Filetti, Dana Pierce, Ashley, Erin, Alexis, Shannon and Terin (!!!) are warming up. Will our Olympian do a vault exhibition tonight?