TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - A week after posting the nation's top score, the No. 4 ranked Alabama Gymnastics team returns to action 7:30 p.m. Friday night in Coleman Coliseum against No. 24 Kentucky with eye on taking another step forward in its journey to the NCAA Championships.

"While I'm certainly pleased with how we performed last weekend, I know that for us to be successful, we have to work on building our depth," head coach Sarah Patterson said. "We can't rely on the same people to go 13 weeks in a row and expect to be successful. We have to get some more people out on different events and develop our lineup where we are nine to 10 gymnasts deep on each event."

That doesn't mean that the Crimson Tide is overlooking the Wildcats, a team that has traditionally competed very well in Tuscaloosa. But Patterson believes that she can shuffle the lineup without a drop in scoring potential.

Friday will also be Academic Achievement night in Coleman Coliseum, with local area student, ninth grade and younger, who are on the "A-B" honor roll for their school can get a voucher for admission from their school.

"Our primary mission here at Alabama is to provide our ladies with a first-rate education," Patterson said. "Nothing else that we do is as important as that and it's a great feeling to recognize academic achievement in our local schools as well."

The Alabama Gymnastics program has a long history of academic excellence, including 107 Scholastic All-American honors since the awards inception in 1991 and a league leading 162 Academic All-SEC honors since 1984. Alabama also leads the nation in NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. This fall, 10 Crimson Tide gymnasts earn a 3.0 or better grade point average. Of that total, eight made the Dean's List with a 3.5 or better GPA and two, sophomore Cassie Martin and freshman Kassi Price, earned a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Tickets for Friday's meet are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) or online at www.rolltide.com.

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