Dillard earns SEC Freshman of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE - After the first collegiate meet of her career, freshman Sydnie Dillard has been named the Southeatern Conference Freshman of the week, the league has announced.

“She is a valuable asset to our program,” co-head coach Mark Cook said. “She really stepped up for us Friday agianst Georgia. That is huge for a freshman to come in and perform the way that she did.”

Dillard, from Fairview, Texas, tied for second on the beam with a 9.875 which she shared with All-American Katherine Grable for the team high score. Dillard also had a 9.85 on floor which earned her a third-place finish for the meet and second place on the team.

Dillard currently ranks 12th place in the country on the balance beam, and tied for 33rd place on the floor exercise.

Her totals helped Arkansas score a 195.775 against Georgia. That total was good enough to earn the Razorbacks a three-spot jump in the poll to currently be ranked ninth in the country.

The SEC award is the first of her career. Dillard is the eighth Razorback to earn SEC honors, joining Dana McQuillin, Katie Hardman, Cassie Drew, Michelle Stout, Casey Jo Magee, Jaime Pisani and Grable.

Dillard and the No.9 Razorbacks are on the road this week at No. 14 Kentucky in Memorial Coliseum at 6 p.m. (CT).