The Alabama Crimson Tide faces their arch rival, the Georgia Gym Dogs, this Friday, for the second time this month. Alabama won the Super Six Challenge in Athens, Georgia by a score of 195.750 to 195.400. Georgia continues to include a high degree of difficulty in their routines, but has experienced some problems with execution. Consistency was their main problem against Florida, particularly on vault and floor. They were able to turn this around at their meet against LSU, scoring 196.375. They have a strong junior class with Kristi Lichey, Kathleen Shrieves, Suzanne Sears, and Amanda Curry.

Lichey was just named SEC gymnast of the week for the second consecutive week. She is a strong All Around performer, scoring 39.675, against LSU last week. This ties her career high, and is the highest All Around score in the country, so far this year. Lichey has by far, been the most consistent member of the Gym Dogs. Curry is also a strong All Around performer for Georgia.

On vault, Georgia has started out their season with six members having vaults with a 10.0 start value, giving them great potential for high scores. And, most of the time they are getting scores above 9.8. Last week was a particularly good week for Georgia on the vault, with Lichey scoring a career high of 9.925. Also scoring high were Curry with 9.875, Sears with 9.85, Shrieves with 9.85, and Brooke Anderson with 9.85.

Shrieves has been performing extremely well on bars this year with her lowest score of the season being 9.875. She is back this year after a torn ACL at the beginning of the 1999 season. She will be a key member for the Gym dogs this year. Lichey's performance is again strong on this event. Anderson and Curry are also capable of scoring high.

The lead Dog on beam has been Talya Vexler, because of her consistency on this event. She can score big, but more importantly, the team has the confidence she will stay on, allowing them to approach the apparatus aggressively when it is their turn to perform. Curry performs a difficult full twisting straddle down in her routine, and is also a solid performer. Lichey excels on this apparatus as well.

Again watch for Shrieves, Sears, and Lichey on the floor. Also, Vexler received a 9.925 last week on this event. Sophomore Dannielle Maurone could also pull a few more surprises on Friday. Against LSU last week, she was slated to do an exhibition routine, but just as the Gym Dogs were about to take the floor, she was sent in to lead off the team instead. She scored a career high of 9.9. That kind of grace under pressure will be an asset to the team when they meet Alabama.

Another Gym Dog to watch for is Sophomore Eileen Diaz. She has the capability of scoring high on bars and beam, with scores of 9.8 up to 9.875 on the bars, but has also had some trouble in being consistent with her performance.

If you can't make it to Athens, remember to check out the live online stats Friday night, because this one should be a nail biter to the very end.