This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah senior Breanna Hughes and her family journeyed through Cedar City during one of their family trips several years ago.

She doesn't remember much about the area, other than Southern Utah University having a neat campus.

"We walked around a bit and it seemed like a nice place," she said.

Cedar City might seem a little different to Hughes and the rest of the Utes when they arrive for a rare meet at the Centrum.

While the Utah-SUU rivalry is a friendly one, it's still a rivalry nonetheless and a loud, jam-packed crowd full of Thunderbird supporters is expected to be on hand for the 7 p.m. meet.

"It's going to be a tough environment and crazy situation," SUU coach Scott Bauman predicted. "We know they are a good team but at the same time we are a good team, too. Hopefully the judges come in and judge what they see on the floor and not the school they are from or the leotards they wear. If both teams hit, Utah probably pulls that meet out, but a lot of things can happen."

The Utes' only previous appearance in Cedar City was in 1997, when they took a 195.8-193.675 win. They currently have a 21-0 mark against SUU and, as Bauman said, should be strong enough to win if they hit. However, the Thunderbirds believe they are an improved team and hope their experience will help make the meet close.

"If both teams hit and it comes down to the last three or floor competitors, it's going to make for a great atmosphere in the Centrum," Bauman said.

The Utes opened their season with a 196.175-193.85 victory over BYU, while SUU scored a 194.1 to finish behind host Denver (195.375) and ahead of Virginia (193.65) last week.

Bauman said his team is notorious for slow starts and hopes for a better showing on Friday. The Thunderbirds have a veteran team, although two key gymnasts, Memory Shettles and Virginia Brownsell, have injuries that might limit them.

Still, Bauman remains optimistic this is a team that can contend for a national spot and he hopes Friday's meet reflects that kind of talent.

"We've been building our name a little bit and going to regionals," he said. "Now it's time to make that switch and focus on getting to nationals."

As for the Utes, they expect they are going into a tough atmosphere, but they aren't fazed by the thought, considering some of the places in which they regularly compete.

"It's fun for us to go to new arenas," Hughes said. "The goal for us is to keep building on what we started in our first meet." —

No. 7 Utah at Southern Utah

P At the Centrum, Cedar City, Friday, 7 p.m.

Records • Utah (1-0); SUU (1-1)

Live scores/commentary • suutbirds.com and utahutes.com

Of note • The Utes are ranked No. 1 on the uneven bars with a 49.225 while Baely Rowe is No. 3 (9.925). … Sabrina Schwab has earned a spot in the floor lineup after winning the event as a last-minute substitute against BYU. … SUU's Danielle Ramirez was second in the all-around .