Alabama gymnast Diandra Milliner saving best for last

Diandra Milliner has been a fixture in the University of Alabama gymnastics team's lineup since she arrived on campus as a freshman in 2011. She immediately became one of the stars on vault and was 2013 NCAA vault champion as a junior.

But Milliner's time as a member of the Crimson Tide is dwindling. The team hosts Auburn in its final regular-season meet of the season tonight. That meet, and the postseason, are all that stands between her and the end of her collegiate career.

Still, Milliner said, she is saving her best gymnastics for her last stretch of meets.

“My expectations are to lay it all out on the line,” Milliner said. “This is the last chance I get for me and my team… We're going to go out and do our best with our crowd supporting us and behind us.”

The Wichita, Kan., native has always been known for talent on the floor. But in her senior season, she has had to transform into one of the leaders of the team, which was new for her, according to coach Sarah Patterson.

“In the beginning, she didn't really understand it. She was just here and jumped out there and did a great job. Everything was so easy,” Patterson said. “Now, I feel like she's matured tremendously and when I ask her to do something because that's what benefits the team, it took a while for her to understand it, but now she has that 'we' mentality rather than a 'me' mentality.”

One of the strongest aspects of Milliner's skillset, according to Patterson, is her competitive demeanor. Patterson can send Milliner onto the floor as the last competitor, or in any slot, knowing she will turn out a solid routine. That was apparent in Alabama's last meet against Stanford, when Milliner earned a perfect 10 on vault.

“The biggest thing about (Milliner) is she's so competitive,” Patterson said. “In the fall, I had to push her a little bit, but I know when the competition comes out that she's going to shine. She doesn't get nervous. That's one of the reasons we recruited her years ago, because she's a fierce competitor. You can have a great athlete that can be great at what they do, but the mental toughness of getting in that pressure situation — sometimes they don't handle it as well. We look for those kids that want to compete. It's like that football player that wants the ball.”

For Milliner, tonight's regular-season finale will be filled with emotions. But once the lights come back on after the National Anthem, she will block them out and dive into her competitive spirit.

“It'll definitely be a little sad,” Milliner said. “I've told Sarah she's going to have to drag me off the floor. But I definitely feel like it will be special, and we hope to go out with a bang.”