Preview: No. 9 Dukes Journey to No. 1 Baylor Saturday

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The No. 9 Duquesne University acrobatics and tumbling staff continues its stretch of 4 consecutive top-10 matchups Saturday, touring to face No. 1 Baylor in Waco, Texas.

MEET INFO   

No. 9 Duquesne Dukes (2-2) at No. 1 Baylor Bears (7-0)

Saturday, March 28 • 6:00 PM (ET) / 5:00 PM (CT)

Ferrell Center • Waco, Texas

THE DUKES

Roster • Schedule • Team Scores • Individual Scores

• Duquesne, ranked No. 9 within the first set of NCATA common season rankings launched Wednesday, stays the youngest program within the nationwide rankings, competing in simply its second season.
• The Dukes return 30 student-athletes from final 12 months’s inaugural squad, together with graduate pupil Abby McDermott and junior Alia Ellis, whereas welcoming again a 28-member sophomore class. Seven freshmen joined this system this season.
• Top-10 Battles: Saturday marks Duquesne’s fourth consecutive top-10 matchup, finishing a stretch of 4 straight ranked opponents — three of which have come on the street. Duquesne is 2-4 all-time in opposition to top-10 opponents, together with a 1-2 mark this season. The Dukes most not too long ago dropped an in depth resolution at No. 6 Fairmont State after sweeping No. 10 Azusa Pacific in all six occasions on March 4 and falling at No. 9 Gannon earlier this season. Duquesne’s first top-10 victory got here in opposition to No. 3 Gannon in this system’s inaugural meet final 12 months.
• Versus The Bears: Duquesne confronted Baylor for the primary time final season, posting a then-season-high 256.210 at dwelling on March 11, 2025. The Dukes gained two heats — open pyramid and trio move — whereas recording season highs in seven heats and two occasion totals.
• By The Numbers: Duquesne is averaging 257.260 factors per meet and is coming off a season-high 260.595 at No. 6 Fairmont State — the second 260-plus rating in program historical past and first this season.
• Last Time Out: The Dukes posted a season-high 260.595 however had been edged by No. 6 Fairmont State, 267.140, on March 15. Duquesne recorded six program-best warmth scores and two event-total highs within the meet. New marks had been set in six-element acro (9.00), open pyramid (9.80), aerial move (9.325) and six-element move (9.600), whereas synchronized pyramid (9.80) and the 450 salto toss (8.90) matched program highs. The Dukes totaled 23.475 in deductions in comparison with 23.450 for Fairmont State, however a begin worth benefit proved to be the distinction. Duquesne gained the pyramid occasion with a meet-low 0.55 in deductions and in addition recorded lower than one level in deductions within the program-record acro occasion.
• Record Book Update: Duquesne has surpassed 16 of its 19 warmth information from final season’s inaugural marketing campaign, together with new program highs in all three acro and all three pyramid heats. Four of six occasions — obligatory, acro, pyramid and toss — have already matched or exceeded earlier program highs this season, with 9 of the ten first-half heats producing new program information.
• Starting Strong: The Dukes have posted program highs throughout all three first-half occasions this season, together with marks of 28.45 in acro and 29.45 in pyramid final trip. Duquesne has additionally recorded a 37.10 within the obligatory occasion in three of 4 meets.
• Near Perfect: Duquesne has recorded three warmth scores of 9.90 or larger this season, highlighted by a program-record 9.95 in obligatory toss in opposition to Azusa Pacific. The Dukes additionally scored a 9.90 in inversion pyramid in that meet and a 9.90 in five-element acro within the season opener in opposition to West Liberty. Duquesne has additionally charted 1.00 or much less in complete deductions in each the acro and pyramid occasions in every of its final three meets.
• 2026 NCATA Weekly Honors: Alia Ellis – Mar. 4 after No. 10 Azusa Pacific – Specialist of the Week (first Duke ever to earn the honour) 
  

SCOUTING THE BEARS

Roster • Schedule/Results • Meet Notes

• The 10-time defending NCATA nationwide champion, Baylor enters Saturday with a 7-0 file and is averaging 279.234 factors per meet.
• The Bears carry a 57-meet profitable streak courting again to March 27, 2021, and surpassed 280 factors for the third time this season of their final meet — a 281.030–266.045 win at No. 4 Iona on March 9.
• Head coach Felecia Mulkey has gained all 14 NCATA nationwide championships, together with 4 at Oregon (2009-14) and 10 consecutive titles at Baylor from 2015-24.

UP NEXT

• Duquesne returns dwelling for its regular-season finale on Thursday, April 9, internet hosting La Salle at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. Admission is free to all dwelling meets, and the competition can be streamed on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow the Duquesne Acrobatics and Tumbling staff all season on-line at GoDuquesne.com and on Twitter (X) and Instagram (@duqacrotumb).

ABOUT ACROBATICS & TUMBLING

Created in 2009, Acrobatics & Tumbling is the evolution of a number of gymnastics disciplines, incorporating the athletic components of aggressive cheerleading. The sport is sponsored by 52 NCAA varsity packages, with 47 groups competing this spring and greater than 1,300 student-athletes nationwide. In January, Acrobatics & Tumbling was formally elevated from an NCAA Emerging Sport to an NCAA Championship Sport and can debut its first National Collegiate Championship in spring 2027. For extra info, go to TheNCATA.org.