Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University bowling team concluded play in its first tournament of the 2025-26 season Sunday, finishing ninth at the Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic in Struthers, Ohio, at Holiday Bowl. The Dukes closed action with a 3-0 record Sunday, including a pair of wins over ranked foes, and own an overall mark of 7-6 (.538) after the first competition of their 10th season as an NCAA Division I program.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Duquesne entered the championship bracket taking on Mercyhurst and earned a 4-2 victory to advance. The Dukes won each of the first three games of the series before the Lakers rebounded to take games four and five. Sealing the victory in game six, Duquesne edged Mercyhurst as both teams had their best games of the series, 236-222. The Dukes advanced to take on No. 21 Valparaiso, which opened bracket play with a 4-2 victory over No. 20 Wright State. Despite falling in game one by five pins, 158-153, Duquesne rebounded to win games two and three before the Crusaders earned a 210-201 victory in game four to even the series. The Dukes closed with a 204-148 win in game five and a 189-180 win in game six to win the series, 4-2, and set up a rematch from Friday with No. 14 Mount St. Mary's.
THE FINAL BRACKET
Duquesne and the Mount went a full seven games, which was set up by the Dukes earning a one-pin victory in game one, 182-181. A 2-0 lead followed before Mount St. Mary's won games two and three, with the Dukes earning a dominant 224-133 triumph in game five. The Mount didn't wilt, earning a 211-194 win to force a game seven, which saw Duquesne close with a 188-177 victory. Overall, the Dukes tallied 3,527 total pins during the championship bracket, which ranked sixth among the 18 teams competing Sunday.
SPARES & STRIKES
Duquesne closed the tournament with 12,942 total pins over the course of the three days of action in 69 games, an average score of 187.6 … Nebraska claimed the championship of the 2025 Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic, its second consecutive win in the competition and third overall … Both Arkansas State and Jacksonville State led the field in total pins with 14,324 each … JSU averaged 213.8 in 67 games, with the ASU reaching its pin total in 69 games, an average of 207.6 … Eight of the 13 matches for Duquesne as part of the Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic were against ranked foes, with the Dukes going 3-5 in those matches … Senior
Emma Siekierski finished as the
top individual for Duquesne in traditional play Saturday, averaging 195.80 over five games.
UP NEXT
The Dukes head south for its next tournament, traveling to the Sunshine State to take part in Destination Orlando. The competition begins Friday, Oct. 24, in Orlando, Fla., at AMF Sky Lanes and continues through Sunday, Oct. 26.
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