WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – No. 15 Duquesne acrobatics & tumbling defeated West Liberty 252.515-239.795 on Saturday in the program's first-ever road meet, improving to 2-0 in its inaugural season.
The Dukes outscored the Hilltoppers by 4.05 points in the tumbling event, taking a 3.2-point lead into the final team event. They sealed the victory with an 83.64-74.12 margin in the team routine.
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"We are proud of the team for competing at such a high level today. West Liberty is a well-established program, and we were able to stay competitive against a great opponent. The meet was back and forth the entire time, but we had a strong second half, securing the win in the end.
Tumbling was a highlight for us. Our performance showcased consistency and determination, proving they can compete at a high level," said head coach Michaela Soper.
Briella Unger recorded a 9.275 in the six-element pass, more than a point higher than her West Liberty counterpart.
Sienna Johnson and
Claire Piper each posted 9.200 scores in the aerial and open passes, respectively, to cap the tumbling event.
Duquesne led 36.30-36.00 after the compulsory event, highlighted by a meet-high 9.75 in the pyramid heat (
Carly Longenecker,
Alia Ellis,
Natalie Angland,
McKenna Fisher,
Abby McDermott,
Taylor Hollis,
Michela Del Rosso,
Mireya Maymi,
Madeline Hollingsworth,
Taylor Wallace,
Genevieve Muise, and
Mia Dipner) and a 9.50 in the toss heat (
Anna Trent,
Abby Eberle, Johnson, Angland, Dipner, Ellis, Unger, Piper, Muise, and Hollingsworth).
West Liberty (1-3) took a slim lead after edging Duquesne in the acro (27.25-26.60), pyramid (28.70-28.30), and toss (25.40-25.30) events, holding a 117.350-116.500 advantage heading into the final two events. The Dukes responded with a dominant performance in tumbling, winning five of the six heats, and topped the Hilltoppers by 9.52 points in the team event to secure the win.
Duquesne's inversion pyramid group of
Jamie Bray, Ellis, Fisher, McDermott, Dipner, and Muise earned a 9.65 for the second straight meet.
UP NEXT
Duquesne will travel to fellow first-year program Missouri State next Saturday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m.
FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow the Duquesne Acrobatics and Tumbling team all season online at
GoDuquesne.com and on
Twitter (X) and
Instagram (@duqacrotumb).
ABOUT ACROBATICS & TUMBLING
For more information on the sport of Acrobatics & Tumbling, visit
TheNCATA.org.
