PITTSBURGH - The fourth-year Duquesne women's bowling program reached unprecedented heights with a No. 10 ranking in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Top 25 December poll released today.
    
The Dukes (35-16), who jumped from No. 20 in the pre-season poll, are ranked seventh in the RPI, ninth nationally in baker average and 11th in the Team Composite Performance Index.

Bowling is just the second program in school history to reach the Top 10 in a national poll, joining men's basketball which was last ranked in The Associated Press Top 10 on Feb. 23, 1971 at No. 8.

"We've had a great fall, winning both portions of the Bud Whitman Classic and then finishing second at both the Mount Shootout and our first NEC Conference event," said head coach Jody Fetterhoff. "This team has proven that we are much stronger than our pre-season ranking by finishing third and seventh in fields that included most of the teams ranked in the Top 25. Being in the Top 10 is a huge accomplishment and we look to keep the momentum going this weekend and for the remainder of the season."

Duquesne, which has the ninth-best record nationally against Top 10 programs (6-7), is one of four programs with four bowlers ranked among the Top 50 in the current NTCA Player Composite Performance Index: junior two-time All-American Olivia Farwell (12th), freshman and four-time Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week Crystal Elliott (21st), junior Allison Hresko (33rd) and sophomore Jessica Cadez (50th).

DU has been ranked in every NTCA Poll since February of 2018, a streak of 12 in a row.

The Dukes return to action this weekend at the second NEC Meet of the season at Colony Park North Lanes in York, Pa.