GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 11 University of Florida gymnastics team fell to No. 2 Georgia 194.95-191.975 Friday evening in the Dodge Opening Night competition, held in front of a Stephen C. O'Connell Center crowd of 4,456.
 
The two-time defending NCAA champion GymDogs swept the meet's individual titles. UGA junior Kristi Lichey won the evening's all-around title at 39.275. She also claimed the balance beam crown with a mark of 9.875. Georgia junior Suzanne Sears also was a double winner Friday, taking the vault (9.85) and floor exercise titles (9.90). Junior Kathleen Shrives completed the sweep for the GymDogs by claiming the uneven bars title with a 9.875.
 
Florida's top all-arounder was senior Chrissy Van Fleet, who took third overall at 38.675. She also was second on the uneven bars and floor exercise with identical marks of 9.85. Other Gators stepping up on the awards stand Friday include freshman Jenny Carow, who took third on beam with a collegiate-best 9.825, plus Lindsey Miner and Hilary Thompson, who shared third on floor at 9.80.
 
The Gators were stunned early in the meet when senior Maryann Esposito dislocated her left knee on the landing of her second vault Friday. The dislocation tore the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and the posterior capsule of her left knee. She will have surgery on Monday, Jan. 17 to repair the damage to her left knee and will not be able to return to the 2000 UF lineup.
 
"We need to work on our consistency early in the meet so we won't be so far behind. We need to hit on bars, which is something I know we can do," UF Head Coach Judi Markell said. "This season is far from over. I have a group of fighters – there is no doubt about that."
 
Next up, the Gators travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to meet No. 1 Alabama on Friday, Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. (ET).

 
Dodge Opening Night
No. 11 Florida vs. No. 2 Georgia
Jan. 14, 2000
Stephen C. O'Connell Center
Attendance: 4,456
 
Final Team Scores

Total		Vault		Bars		Beam		Floor
		Georgia
194.95	1	49.100	1	48.725	1	48.925	1	48.200	2
		Florida
191.975	2	48.025	2	47.150	2	47.950	2	48.850	1

 

All-Around

Rank			Vault	Bars	Beam	Floor	Total
1	Kristi Lichey	Georgia	9.825	9.775	9.800	9.875	39.275
2	Amanda Curry	Georgia	9.825	9.600	9.525	9.850	38.800
3	Chrissy Van Fleet	Florida	9.675	9.850	9.300	9.850	38.675
4	Hilary Thompson	Florida	9.575	9.575	9.625	9.800	38.575
5	Jenny Carow	Florida	9.550	8.700	9.825	9.425	37.500
5	Lindsey Miner	Florida	9.600	9.025	9.075	9.800	37.500

 
Vault

Name	Score
Suzanne Sears	9.875	1	Georgia
Amanda Curry	9.825	2	Georgia
Kristi Lichey	9.825	2	Georgia
Eileen Diaz	9.825	2	Georgia
Talya Vexler	9.750	5	Georgia
Chrissy Van Fleet	9.675	6	Florida
Teal Chiabotti	9.625	7	Florida
Lindsey Miner	9.600	8	Florida
Hilary Thompson	9.575	9	Florida
Jenny Carow	9.550	10	Florida
Maryann Esposito	9.550	10	Florida
Brooke Andersen	9.025	12	Georgia

 
Uneven Bars

Name	Score
Chrissy Van Fleet	9.850	1	Florida
Suzanne Sears	9.850	1	Georgia
Kristi Lichey	9.775	3	Georgia
Monica Flammer	9.775	3	Georgia
Brooke Andersen	9.725	5	Georgia
Krissy Dreger	9.700	6	Florida
Amanda Curry	9.600	7	Georgia
Hilary Thompson	9.575	8	Florida
Caroline Harris	9.575	8	Georgia
Lindsey Miner	9.025	10	Florida
Kelly Hesbeens	9.000	11	Florida
Jenny Carow	8.700	12	Florida

 
Balance Beam

Name	Score
Suzanne Sears	9.900	1	Georgia
Jenny Carow	9.825	2	Florida
Kristi Lichey	9.800	3	Georgia
Teal Chiabotti	9.725	4	Florida
Talya Vexler	9.675	5	Georgia
Hilary Thompson	9.625	6	Florida
Amanda Curry	9.525	7	Georgia
Kelly Hesbeens	9.475	8	Florida
Chrissy Van Fleet	9.300	9	Florida
Danielle Maurone	9.300	9	Georgia
Lindsey Miner	9.075	11	Florida
Monica Flammer	9.050	12	Georgia

 
Floor Exercise

Name	Score
Kristi Lichey	9.875	1	Georgia
Chrissy Van Fleet	9.850	2	Florida
Amanda Curry	9.850	2	Georgia
Lindsey Miner	9.800	4	Florida
Hilary Thompson	9.800	4	Florida
Talya Vexler	9.800	4	Georgia
Eileen Diaz	9.800	4	Georgia
Teal Chiabotti	9.725	8	Florida
Kelly Hesbeens	9.675	9	Florida
Cassie Bair	9.600	10	Georgia
Jenny Carow	9.425	11	Florida
Anna Gingrich	9.425	11	Georgia