Number 1 ranked UCLA and number 2 ranked Alabama will square off on January 28 at 2:00 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.

The Bruins have had the highest total score in the nation three weeks in a row, a streak the Tide will be looking to end.

Last week in their match-up with then second ranked Utah, the Bruins saw a record crowd of more than 3,700. Head Coach Valorie Kondos Field thinks the increased crowd has a lot to do with the fact that they have four Olympians on team and that the team is performing well. "We continue to do outreach programs as well, each week we try to focus on a different group such as gyms or senior citizens."

In addition to the four Olympians on the team, Alyssa Beckerman (US), Jamie Dantzscher (US), Kristen Maloney (US), and Yvonne Tousek (Canada), the Bruins have five other freshmen bringing the total to nine. When asked how she felt about such a large freshman class, Coach Field said, "Initially I was anticipating negative effects with having a freshman class this large and with so much experience. But it has been fun and exciting. The gymnasts have bonded and are respectful towards one another."

As for the freshmen's experience level, Coach Field replied, "I think it has been a little of an advantage for them since they have competed in international meets, but they still get nervous. In the gym, though, there is no difference."

Coach Field believes that the team as a whole has room for improvement, "We continue to score 10's, but it is the same people. We are giving up lots of tenths and half-tenths on landings because we aren't mentally and emotionally prepared for competition. We don't need to just get the job done, we need to get it done with an exclamation point the way Mohini Bhardwaj does." Senior Bhardwaj is currently averaging a 10.0 on the floor exercise and ranked #1 in the nation on the all-around.

There a lots of names to look for on this team, but Coach Field says to keep an eye on her sophomores, Malia Jones, Kristen Parker, Doni Thompson and Onnie Willis. "They are excellent gymnasts and they continue to learn new skills and are improving their competitiveness."

Prior to Sunday's meet, UCLA will be traveling to Arizona State for a meet on Friday, January 26. Coach Field is still unsure how this is going to affect her team. "We could put up two separate teams the way we did at the Maui Invitational. Or we could only let our all-arounders, such as Kristen Maloney, compete in just two events against Arizona so they could still compete in the all-around on Sunday," Coach Field says. "However, as of Monday six of my gymnasts had the flu, so we're really going to have to wait and see how that affects us as well."

Two other teams, Cal State Fullerton and Southern Utah, will be at the meet on Sunday, but no doubt all eyes will be on Alabama and UCLA as they each strive for that number 1 spot.