In a stunning upset, the top-seeded LSU Tigers gymnastics team, featuring social media sensation Livvy Dunne, saw their championship hopes dashed in the NCAA semifinals after finishing third in their group. Despite dominating earlier rounds, the Tigers fell short against Utah, UCLA, and Michigan State in the pivotal semifinal meet, where only the top two teams advanced to the national title showdown.
Precision Scoring and Early Struggles
Under the tournament’s unique scoring system for final rounds, each routine receives four judges’ scores rather than two, creating precision down to the fourth decimal place. LSU opened on uneven bars with freshman standout Lexi Zeiss electrifying the crowd via a 9.9000 opener. While teammates Ashley Cowan (9.8125) and Haleigh Bryant (9.8750) delivered respectable performances, none could surpass Zeiss’ early benchmark. The Tigers trailed Michigan State by a razor-thin 0.0625 after Rotation 1.
Beam Woes Deepen the Gap
Sierra Ballard ignited the beam rotation with a strong 9.8750, matched later by Kailin Chio. Konnor McClain’s 9.9000 and Bryant’s 9.8750 provided momentum, but Aleah Finnegan’s uncharacteristic fall (9.2250) proved costly. By Rotation 2, LSU plummeted to last, trailing Utah by 0.1250.
Floor Rally Offers False Hope
The floor exercise brought mixed results early, with McClain and Ballard falling short of 9.9s. However, Amari Drayton (9.9000) and Aleah Finnegan (9.9375) delivered clutch performances to lift LSU into second temporarily. The Tigers entered their final rotation on vault needing perfection to survive.
Vault Heartbreak Seals Fate
Vault proved challenging initially, with KJ Johnson (9.8375) and Lexi Zeiss (9.8000) battling landing issues. Freshman phenom Kailin Chio nearly salvaged the rotation with a spectacular 9.9750, setting up a dramatic finish. Anchor Haleigh Bryant’s 9.9000 kept hopes alive, but UCLA’s Emma Malabuyo delivered a career-defining beam routine (9.9500), clinching UCLA’s advancement alongside Utah and ending LSU’s repeat title bid.
A Stunning Conclusion
The elimination of the nation’s top-ranked team sent shockwaves through the gymnastics world. While UCLA and Utah advanced to Saturday’s championship, LSU’s quest for back-to-back titles ended in bitter disappointment. The Tigers’ semifinal collapse underscored the unforgiving nature of postseason competition, where even minor errors can derail championship aspirations.