Pittsburgh, Pa. – Duquesne junior Alia Ellis has been named the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) Specialist of the Week, announced by the organization on Wednesday. Ellis becomes the first Duke in program history to earn NCATA Specialist of the Week honors, while Sienna Johnson and Georgia Clancy earned weekly honorable mention recognition after the trio helped lead the Dukes to a victory over No. 10 Azusa Pacific last week.

Ellis served as a base in all three pyramid heats that helped Duquesne post a program-record 29.45 out of 30 in the event. Including compulsory pyramid, all four pyramid routines tied or set program-best scores, with the Dukes recording a 9.75 or higher in each, highlighted by a 9.90 out of 10 in inversion pyramid.

The Roseville, Calif. native competed in eight heats plus the team event in the win, including the program-record 9.95 in compulsory toss. Seven of the eight heats she competed in either tied or set new program highs.

Johnson (honorable mention athlete of the week) and Clancy (honorable mention freshman of the week) each earned more than 95 percent of their possible points in the top-10 victory. The duo starred as the tops in Duquesne's program-record 9.95 compulsory toss heat, the highest score ever recorded by the Dukes in any heat. Johnson tied or set program-best marks in three of her six heats, while Clancy, competing in a season-high seven heats, contributed to five program-high scores.

Duquesne returns to action Sunday at 2 p.m., beginning a two-meet road stretch with a trip to No. 6 Fairmont State.

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ABOUT ACROBATICS & TUMBLING
Created in 2009, Acrobatics & Tumbling is the evolution of multiple gymnastics disciplines, incorporating the athletic elements of competitive cheerleading. The sport is sponsored by 52 NCAA varsity programs, with 47 teams competing this spring and more than 1,300 student-athletes nationwide. In January, Acrobatics & Tumbling was officially elevated from an NCAA Emerging Sport to an NCAA Championship Sport and will debut its first National Collegiate Championship in spring 2027. For more information, visit TheNCATA.org.