No. 12 Arkansas hosts No. 6 Georgia in home opener

Click here to jump to the Arkansas-Georgia pay-per-view event FAYETTEVILLE — The 12th-ranked University of Arkansas gymnastics team opens the 2005 home schedule hosting No. 6 and NCAA runner-up Georgia in Southeastern Conference action Friday in Barnhill Arena at 7:00 p.m. Arkansas (3-0, 2-0 SEC) and Georgia (7-0, 2-0 SEC) both enter the meet with perfect records with the Gym Dogs traveling to Fayetteville for just the second time in program history. "We’re excited to be at home," said Arkansas co-head coach Rene Cook. "To have that home crowd behind us is an awesome feeling. It will be great for our fans to see how much we’ve grown and improved." The Gym’Backs have won three in a row on the road to begin the season. Arkansas opened at Minnesota who was receiving votes in the preseason coaches poll and notched a convincing win over the Gophers. Arkansas was again in the win column to open SEC action traveling to No. 10 Kentucky with a 194.250 to 193.800 improving to 4-0-1 all-time against the Wildcats. The Gym’Backs went on to escape with a second conference win over No. 12 Auburn, 194-925-194.225 notching their second consecutive SEC victory of the year. "We’ve looked good so far," noted freshman Samantha Cortez. "Our confidence is high and we know that we just want to try our best with each meet. We’re focused on continuing to do the things that have made us successful so far." The Georgia meet is one of five home meets for Arkansas this season. The Gym’Backs return to the road for a pair of meets before coming back to Barnhill hosting Florida and Alabama the last two weeks of February. Arkansas hosts non-conference opponent Missouri March 13, followed by Arkansas Quad March 19. All five opponents are nationally ranked beginning with No. 6 Georgia. "We have a game plan," said co-head coach Mark Cook. "There are things we can’t control and things we can. Some of the things we can control are how hard we work and how well we prepare and we’re doing that to the best of our ability everyday." "We’re excited for the big home crowd," continued Cortez. "We’re excited to perform for the hometown fans and have them behind us. We saw the crowd as recruits and now we’re seeing it as a Gym’Back." Tickets for Friday’s meet and all home meets are available at the Lady Razorback Ticket Office at 57-LBACK or on-line at LADYBACKS.COM.