LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's gymnastics team continues its 2024 season this weekend as it hosts Southern Utah at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Friday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m.
 
The first 700 students at Friday's meet will receive a free Spectrum Magic T-Shirt. 

This will be the third meeting between Utah State and Southern Utah this season as the Thunderbirds hold a slight 59-57 all-time advantage in the series, while the Aggies are 29-16 all-time at home against SUU.
 
The two teams competed in the fifth-annual Rio Tinto Best of Utah Meet at the Maverik Center in West Valley City on Jan. 15, with SUU scoring a 194.000 and USU scoring a 193.600. USU then scored a season-high 195.375 in a tri meet hosted by Southern Utah on Jan. 19, as the Thunderbirds scored a 195.075.
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MEET INFORMATION
Utah State vs. Southern Utah 
Date: Friday, Jan. 26, 2024
March In: 7 p.m. 
Site: Logan, Utah
Venue: Dee Glen Smith Spectrum 
Promotion: Spectrum Magic
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HEAD COACH KRISTIN WHITE
"Tomorrow is where I believe this team will turn the corner," said second-year head coach Kristin White. "We have been making great progress over the last couple weeks and I am excited to see the performances we have tomorrow. The goal is to put together a complete meet and hit on all four events the way this team knows they can.
 
"The Spectrum is an incredible place to compete, and we are looking forward to the magic. I encourage all Aggie fans to be loud, and on their feet, when they see a great stick!"
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THE COMPETITION
Southern Utah is 2-7 on the season and 0-0 in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation competition. In its last meet, SUU lost at No. 20 Iowa 195.800-195.425. SUU is ranked No. 40 in the country in Week 4 of the Road to Nationals rankings with an average team score of 195.131. The Thunderbirds are 27th in the nation on bars (49.038), 31st on vault (48.963), 50th on beam (48.388) and 53rd on floor (48.744).
 
Individually, junior Isabella Neff is 39th in the nation on bars (9.875). Junior Ellie Cacciola is tied for 68th in the nation on beam (9.837). Freshman Niya Randolph is 81st in the nation in the all-around (38.919) and tied for 103rd in the nation on floor (9.856). And, sophomore Kayla Pardue is 87th in the nation on bars (9.825).
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UTAH STATE NOTES
Utah State (2-7, 1-0 MW) posted a 194.950-193.925 win against Mountain West-foe Air Force in its home opener last weekend. USU began the meet with a season-high 48.950 on vault, followed by a 49.000 on bars, 48.600 on beam and 48.400 on floor. Freshman Nyla Morabito was named the Gymnast of the Meet as she scored a career-high 9.850 on vault and a career-high 9.750 on floor. For her performance, Morabito was also named the MW Vault Co-Specialist of the Week.
 
The Week 4 Road to Nationals rankings has the Aggies at No. 52 with an average score of 194.275. The Aggies are 40th in the nation on bars (48.750), 43rd on beam (48.563), 50th on vault (48.744) and 64th on floor (48.1219).
 
Individually, senior Brianna Brooks is fourth in the Mountain West and 90th in the nation in the all-around (38.725), and third in the MW and tied for 113th in the nation on bars (9.831). Morabito is sixth in the MW and tied for 172nd in the nation on vault (9.794). Senior Lexi Aragon is ninth in the MW and tied for 181st in the nation on beam (9.756). And graduate Alivia Ostendorf is ninth in the MW and tied for 235th in the nation on floor (9.794).
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FOLLOW ALONG
Friday's dual meet will be streamed online at utahstateaggies.com/watch and live scoring will be available online at utahstateaggies.com. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State gymnastics social media outlets for meet updates.

For more information on the Utah State gymnastics program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUGymnastics, on Facebook at UtahStateGymnastics and on Instagram at USUGymnastics.