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Press releaseSALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah gymnastics team is picked to finish second in the annual preseason coaches' poll.
The Utes received 718 total points (six first-place votes) to trail only four-time defending NCAA champion Georgia (739 points, 13 first-place votes).
Utah, which placed third at last year's NCAA Championships after three-straight runner-up finishes, opens its 2010 campaign at preseason No. 5 UCLA on Jan. 9. The Utes' first home meet is Jan. 15 versus No. 23 Iowa State.
The top two teams in the preseason poll will get an early look at each other when Utah hosts Georgia on Jan. 22 in its third meet of the season. Nine teams on Utah's 2010 schedule are ranked in the preseason top-25: No. 1 Georgia, No. 4 Florida, No. 5 UCLA, No. 10 Oregon State, No. 11 Penn State, No. 12 Michigan, No. 15 Nebraska, No. 23 Iowa State and No. 25 Washington.
Five All-Americans return for the Utes, led by six-time All-American and 2008 Olympian Daria Bijak. Bijak is one of four senior All-Americans, joining Jamie Deetscreek, Annie DiLuzio and Beth Rizzo. The other returning All-American for the Utes is junior Kyndal Robarts.
(Courtesy University of Utah)
