Dec. 1, 2010
2011 GymInfo Top 25 Preseason Rankings
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Illinois women's gymnastics team will begin the 2011 season ranked 17th in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll, marking the fourth-straight time and fifth overall that the Illini have been in the nation's top 25 heading into a season. Last season, the Illini started the year with their highest-ever ranking (No. 13), while they checked in at 16th in 2009, 23rd in 2008 and 25th back in 1999 to begin the season.
Illinois wrapped up the 2010 season with a No. 16 national ranking following a third-place showing at the NCAA Central Regional. This season, the Illini return 16 of 24 routines and nine letterwinners, including two All-Americans in seniors Allison Buckley and Melissa Fernandez. Buckley, a two-time All-American, picked up first-team honors on vault in 2010 and second-team honors on beam in 2008, while Fernandez was a first-team All-American honoree on beam at the 2009 NCAA Championships.
UCLA, who is coming off its sixth NCAA national title, was voted as the No. 1 team in the nation with 32 first-place votes. The rest of the top five included No. 2 Alabama, No. 3 Florida, No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 5 Utah. Three other Big Ten schools appeared in the top 25, led by Michigan at No. 9 followed by Penn State at No. 14 and Minnesota at No. 22. Michigan State, Ohio State and Iowa each received votes in the poll and sit just outside the top 25. A total of six opponents on Illinois' schedule are ranked in the preseason top 25, including the three Big Ten squads, Oklahoma (No. 4), Missouri (No. 13) and Kentucky (No. 24).
The Illini host their annual Mixed Pairs Exhibition on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. alongside the Illini men's team at Huff Hall. Regular season competition begins on Saturday, Jan. 8 in Lexington, Ky., against No. 24 Kentucky and Northern Illinois. The home opener takes place on Saturday, Jan. 29, when the women compete against Iowa at Huff Hall.
