• Also see our own Postmeet Commentary for this meet!

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Gymnastics team got the 2008 season, Sarah and David Patterson's 30th coaching the Crimson Tide, off to a very good start here in Coleman Coliseum tonight.

The Pattersons, now 29-1 in home openers, saw their squad post the second highest opening score in school history, beating Big 10 foe Illinois 196.300-192.775. The Crimson Tide drew 11,135 fans on the night, its fourth highest opening tally ever.

"I was looking for a great start, not a perfect start, but something that we can build on," Sarah Patterson said. "I was looking for team unity; I was looking for us gaining confidence. While we weren't perfect tonight, I think our ladies know that we could be a pretty good team down the road. I think they will be excited to come in and work on the mistakes we had."

Sophomore Kassi Price won the all-around with a 39.300 while freshman Kayla Hoffman, who hadn't seen competition in a year and a half before tonight, took second with a 39.175. Price and Hoffman shared top honors on the floor exercise while Hoffman won the vault. Sophomore Casey Overton won the balance beam to round out a Tide sweep.

"It was definitely a great experience," Price said. "I wasn't expecting anything tonight. I just wanted to go out there and do the best that I could for the team. It just happened that I had a very confident approach and it helped me out tonight."

Alabama closed out the night with a strong showing, scoring a 49.275 on the floor exercise led by twin 9.9s from Hoffman and Price. Senior Kaitlin White scored a 9.85, sophomore Ricki Lebegern posted a 9.825 and sophomore Ashley O'Neal led the event off with a 9.8. Illinois scored a 48.525 on the floor.

Hoffman got her night started with a meet-best 9.875 on the vault, leading the Tide to a 48.975 team score. Sophomore Morgan Dennis posted a 9.85 in the anchor spot. Junior Brittany Magee scored a 9.775 while Lebegern got the night started with a 9.75. The Illini scored a 48.325 on the vault.

White got her senior year off to a strong start, leading the Tide off with a 9.85 on the uneven bars. Price led the meet with a 9.9, pushing Alabama to a 49.075 team score. Senior Terin Humphrey, competing on just the uneven bars tonight after a limited amount of practice coming into the meet due to a sore back, scored a 9.825. Dennis and Hoffman rounded out the Tide's scoring with matching 9.75s. Illinois swung to a 48.475 on the bars.

Sophomore Casey Overton started her second season by winning the balance beam with a strong 9.85 from the leadoff spot, pacing the Tide to a 48.875. Junior Brittany Magee scored a 9.825 in the anchor spot, score matched by Lebegern. Illinois scored a 47.750 on the beam.

Alabama hits the road for its next two meets, facing Auburn next Friday on the Plains before traveling to Lexington, Ky. to take on the Wildcats of Kentucky the following week.

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