ERIE, PA – Thirteenth-ranked Duquesne went 7-3 in placing second in its season-opening match at the Mercyhurst Invite in Erie, Pa. over the weekend.

The Dukes finished second despite posting an event-best 191.5 average in 52 games.

The event consisted of five traditional matches on Saturday, followed by five baker matches on Sunday.

Shannon Small (3rd at 203.2) and Morgan Brookover (4th at 197.4) were both named to the All-Tournament Team. Ranelle Ulanday finished seventh with 189.0 average.

The Dukes posted a tournament-best 4,838 pin total in going 4-1 in Saturday's traditional play. DU's 193.5 average was ten full pins better than second place Mercyhurst.

Kiearra Saldi led the Dukes with a team tournament-high 246 in a first match 1006-945 win over Medaille. The Dukes dropped a decision to host Mercyhurst before posting a 1093-594 win over Hilbert, with all five DU bowlers topping 200 led by freshman Emma Siekierski's 242. DU ended the day with a 920-911 win over Daemen and a 933-762 victory over D'Youville.

Duquesne opened Sunday's baker play with back-to-back wins over Roberts Wesleyan (852-811) and Penn State-Behrend (1010-770), before falling to host Mercyhurst (857-886).

The Dukes opening the championship round with a 4-2 win over Medaille, before falling to Mercyhurst in the title match (2-4).

DU will be back in action next weekend at the MOTIV Penguin Classic, hosted by Youngstown State at Holiday Bowl in Struthers, Ohio.


MU INVITE TRADITIONAL (4-1)
Saturday, Oct. 8

Match 1
#13 Duquesne 1006, Medaille 945 (W)
Kiearra Saldi leads the Dukes with a team tournament high 246.

Match 2
Mercyhurst 983, #13 Duquesne 886 (L)
Freshman Emma Siekierski paces DU with a 206.

Match 3
#13 Duquesne 1093, Hilbert 594 (W)
All five Dukes top the 200-pin mark: Siekierski (242), Ranelle Ulanday (225), Shannon Small (222), Morgan Brookover (203) and Brenna Gleim (201).

Match 4
#13 Duquesne 920, Daemen 911 (W)
Gleim paces Duquesne with a 202.

Match 5
#13 Duquesne 933, D'Youville 762 (W)
Small leads the way with a 243.


MU INVITE BAKER (2-1)
Sunday, Oct. 9

Match 6
#13 Duquesne 852, Roberts Wesleyan 811 (W)

Match 7
#13 Duquesne 1010, Penn State Behrend 770 (W)

Match 8
Mercyhurst 886, #13 Duquesne 857 (L)

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND (1-1)

Match 9
#13 Duquesne 4, Medaille 2 (W)
200-187, 190-201, 238-203, 176-144, 181-234, 225-168

Match 10
Mercyhurst 4, #13 Duquesne 2 (L)
207-188, 212-225, 215-225, 232-171, 170-171