YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO – Eleventh-ranked Duquesne (9-4) strung together nine-straight wins, but dropped a pair of 4-3 decisions in Sunday's championship round to finish fourth in a 10-team field at the MOTIV Penguin Classic in Youngstown, Ohio over the weekend.
The Dukes, who won their last three baker games on Friday and swept all five traditional matches on Saturday, opened Sunday's championship round seeded fourth. DU defeated No. 3 seed Lewis 4.5-2.5, before falling to seventh-ranked Youngstown State - the top seed - 4-3. Duquesne faced Lewis again for third place, but fell 4-3. The Dukes battled back from a 2-1 deficit to win back-to-back games, only to see Lewis take the final two.
Individually,
Olivia Farwell finished third overall with a 218.0 average to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Jessica Sacks had her top series as a Duke with a 205.4 average in five games. Sacks posted a pair of single-game highs with a 241 vs. Valparaiso and a 234 against Walsh.
Kiearra Saldi had a 202.33 three-game average, while freshman
Ranelle Ulanday rolled a 203 in her first game as a Duke vs. Valparaiso.
Brenna Gleim averaged 196.67 in three games.
Duquesne dropped its first two baker matches on Friday before the fivesome of
Kiearra Saldi,
Morgan Brookover,
Jessica Sacks,
Shannon Small and
Olivia Farwell combined to post a 1,027 total in a 1,027-992 win over #3 Arkansas State. The 1,027 was the second-highest total posted by any team on the day. The Dukes rode the momentum from that win to post back-to-back victories over Morgan State and Medaille to finish the day 3-2.
DU picked up where it left off, taking all five traditional matches on Saturday, beginning with a 1014-848 win over Valparaiso. Farwell (244) and Sacks (241) led the way. The Dukes, who also defeated Walsh, Lewis, Saint Francis U and Valpo a second time, took a No. 4 seed into Sunday's championship round.
DU returns to action at the MU Invite, hosted by Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pa on Oct. 23-24.
MOTIV CLASSIC BAKER (3-2)
Match 1
Mercyhurst 947, #11 Duquesne 882 (L)
Match 2
#7 Youngstown State 973, #11 Duquesne 895 (L)
Match 3
#11 Duquesne 1027, #3 Arkansas State 992 (W)
Match 4
#11 Duquesne 931, Morgan State 878 (W)
Match 5
#11 Duquesne 933, Medaille 890 (W)
MOTIV CLASSIC TRADITIONAL (5-0)
Match 6
#11 Duquesne 1014, Valparaiso 848
Olivia Farwell leads the way with a 244; Jessica Sacks adds a career-best 241
Match 7
#11 Duquesne 936, Walsh 915
Sacks adds a 234 and Farwell records a 226 to pace the Dukes
Match 8
#11 Duquesne 934, Lewis 888
Farwell continues her hot start with a 221 while Brenna Gleim rolls a 202 in her first match
Match 9
#11 Duquesne 971, Saint Francis U 955
Kiearra Saldi paces DU with a 244 and Farwell follows with a 217
Match 10
#11 Duquesne 971, Valparaiso 848
Freshman Ranelle Ulanday rolls a team-high 203 in her first traditional match as a Duke; Saldi and Gleim add a 201 and 200 respectively
MOTIV CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND (1-2)
Match 1
#11 (4 seed) Duquesne 4.5, (3 seed) Lewis 2.5
(207-207, 210-163, 187-194, 257-168, 221-159, 170-193, 198-191)
Match 2
#7 (1 seed) Youngstown State 4, Duquesne 3
(193-192, 158-173, 233-195, 179-222, 176-269, 191-189, 150-199)
Match 3 (third place)
Lewis 4, #11 Duquesne 3
(217-200, 195-242, 187-246, 226-171, 209-193, 195-212, 182-205)
