Pittsburgh, Pa. – According to a poll of Northeast Conference (NEC) head coaches, the Duquesne University bowling team has been picked to finish in a tie for first in the conference with FDU for the 2025-26 season. The Dukes, in finishing atop the preseason poll for the third consecutive year, and Knights each earned three first-place votes. Picked third is Niagara, which claimed a first-place tally, with Mercyhurst, Monmouth, Wagner and LIU rounding out the poll.
Led by head coach
Jody Fetterhoff, who has guided Duquesne to the NCAA Championship in three of the last five years, Duquesne reached the final of the NEC Championship for the first time last season, falling to FDU, 2-1. Overall in 2024-25, the Dukes finished with a record of 58-47 (.552), including a mark of 15-9 (.625) in the NEC.
Bolstering the Dukes in 2025-26 will be senior
Emma Siekierski and junior
Maribeth Baker. Siekierski, a native of Davison, Mich., was named to the 2025 All-NEC First Team and led Duquesne in completed frames (1,281), recording an average frame score of 19.35. She owns a career average of 184.0 in traditional play during her time on the Bluff.
Baker, a native of York, Pa., was named the 2024 NEC Rookie of the Year while also earning spots on both the All-NEC First Team and All-NEC Rookie Team. Owning a career average of 198.3, which ranks fourth in program history, last season Baker appeared in 29 traditional games, knocking down 5,702 pins for a 196.6 average. Both Baker and Siekierski
advanced to bracket play this past spring at the U22 Queens Tournament in Allen Park, Mich., at Thunderbowl.
Fetterhoff is in her 10th season as the only head coach in program history. A two-time NEC Coach of the Year (2023, 2024), she has led Duquesne to an overall record of 539-326 (.623), including a ledger of 112-68 (.622) against conference foes.
The Dukes christen their 2025-26 season by taking part in the Penguin Classic Friday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 19, in Struthers, Ohio, at Holiday Bowl. It marks the fourth time in the last five years Duquesne will open its season with the event hosted by Youngstown State.
In the 2025-26 preseason top 25 poll from the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA), the
Dukes enter the year ranked 12th. It's the 40th consecutive poll dating back to 2018 that Duquesne has been ranked. The Dukes will also complete their cycle of hosting the NCAA Regional in April of 2026 at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. Duquesne will also
serve as host of the 2027 NCAA Championship, also at AMF Mt.Lebanon Lanes.
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