TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – After opening the 2012 season with a 196.475-196.325 win over Georgia, the Alabama gymnastics team is No. 5 nationally in the first rankings of the season while senior Geralen Stack-Eaton, on the strength of her perfect 10.0 against the Bulldogs, is ranked No. 1 on the vault.

Nebraska is No. 1 in the rankings, which are determined by season average, followed by No. 2 Utah, No. 3 Arkansas and No. 4 Oregon State.  Following the Tide at No. 5, Georgia is sixth, UCLA seventh and Florida eighth. Penn State, the host of Alabama’s first road meet this Saturday, is at No. 9 while Oklahoma rounds out the top-10.

Alabama is ranked second in the vault, fifth on the balance beam and floor exercise and 21st on the uneven bars.

In addition to being No. 1 on the vault, Stack-Eaton is 10th on the uneven bars and 14th on the floor exercise. Junior Ashley Sledge, who made her collegiate debut in the all-around against Georgia, is ranked sixth in the all-around, second on the vault and 13th on the floor exercise.

Senior Ashley Priess, who made her return to the Tide’s lineup after sitting out last season following surgery on both ankles, is ranked seventh on the floor exercise, 10th on the uneven bars and 14th on the floor exercise. Junior Marissa Gutierrez is also ranked seventh on the floor exercise and 21st on the vault. Sophomore Diandra Milliner is ranked 21st on the vault.

The Tide’s win over Georgia will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis on both ESPN2 (Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. CT) and ESPNU (Jan. 19 at 5:30 p.m. CT).

After opening at home, Alabama takes to the road this weekend, traveling to State College, Pa. where it will face Michigan State and Cornell in addition to host Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. ET. The Tide’s next home meet is Friday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum. Tickets are available through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) and online at RollTide.com.

Courtesy Alabama Athletic Media Relations