Pittsburgh, Pa. – The No. 9 Duquesne University acrobatics and tumbling team continues its stretch of four consecutive top-10 matchups Saturday, traveling to face No. 1 Baylor in Waco, Texas.

MEET INFO   
No. 9 Duquesne Dukes (2-2) at No. 1 Baylor Bears (7-0)
Saturday, March 28 • 6:00 PM (ET) / 5:00 PM (CT)
Ferrell Center • Waco, Texas

• WATCH LIVE ON ESPN+
• LIVE SCORES
• NCATA MEET FORMAT 

THE DUKES
Roster • Schedule • Team Scores • Individual Scores

• Duquesne, ranked No. 9 in the first set of NCATA regular season rankings released Wednesday, remains the youngest program in the national rankings, competing in just its second season.
• The Dukes return 30 student-athletes from last year's inaugural squad, including graduate student Abby McDermott and junior Alia Ellis, while welcoming back a 28-member sophomore class. Seven freshmen joined the program this season.
• Top-10 Battles: Saturday marks Duquesne's fourth consecutive top-10 matchup, completing a stretch of four straight ranked opponents — three of which have come on the road. Duquesne is 2-4 all-time against top-10 opponents, including a 1-2 mark this season. The Dukes most recently dropped a close decision at No. 6 Fairmont State after sweeping No. 10 Azusa Pacific in all six events on March 4 and falling at No. 9 Gannon earlier this season. Duquesne's first top-10 victory came against No. 3 Gannon in the program's inaugural meet last year.
• Versus The Bears: Duquesne faced Baylor for the first time last season, posting a then-season-high 256.210 at home on March 11, 2025. The Dukes won two heats — open pyramid and trio pass — while recording season highs in seven heats and two event totals.
• By The Numbers: Duquesne is averaging 257.260 points per meet and is coming off a season-high 260.595 at No. 6 Fairmont State — the second 260-plus score in program history and first this season.
• Last Time Out: The Dukes posted a season-high 260.595 but were edged by No. 6 Fairmont State, 267.140, on March 15. Duquesne recorded six program-best heat scores and two event-total highs in the meet. New marks were set in six-element acro (9.00), open pyramid (9.80), aerial pass (9.325) and six-element pass (9.600), while synchronized pyramid (9.80) and the 450 salto toss (8.90) matched program highs. The Dukes totaled 23.475 in deductions compared to 23.450 for Fairmont State, but a start value advantage proved to be the difference. Duquesne won the pyramid event with a meet-low 0.55 in deductions and also recorded less than one point in deductions in the program-record acro event.
• Record Book Update: Duquesne has surpassed 16 of its 19 heat records from last season's inaugural campaign, including new program highs in all three acro and all three pyramid heats. Four of six events — compulsory, acro, pyramid and toss — have already matched or exceeded previous program highs this season, with nine of the 10 first-half heats producing new program records.
• Starting Strong: The Dukes have posted program highs across all three first-half events this season, including marks of 28.45 in acro and 29.45 in pyramid last time out. Duquesne has also recorded a 37.10 in the compulsory event in three of four meets.
• Near Perfect: Duquesne has recorded three heat scores of 9.90 or higher this season, highlighted by a program-record 9.95 in compulsory toss against Azusa Pacific. The Dukes also scored a 9.90 in inversion pyramid in that meet and a 9.90 in five-element acro in the season opener against West Liberty. Duquesne has also charted 1.00 or less in total deductions in both the acro and pyramid events in each of its last three meets.
• 2026 NCATA Weekly Honors: Alia Ellis – Mar. 4 after No. 10 Azusa Pacific – Specialist of the Week (first Duke ever to earn the honor) 
  • Honorable Mention
    • Carly Longenecker – Feb. 18 after West Liberty – Honorable Mention Athlete of the Week
    • Alia Ellis – Feb. 18 after West Liberty – Honorable Mention Specialist of the Week
    • Caileigh Kertis – Feb. 18 after West Liberty – Honorable Mention Freshman of the Week
    • Abby McDermott – Feb. 25 after No. 9 Gannon – Honorable Mention Specialist of the Week
    • Caileigh Kertis – Feb. 25 after No. 9 Gannon – Honorable Mention Freshman of the Week
    • Sienna Johnson – Mar. 4 after No. 10 Azusa Pacific – Honorable Mention Athlete of the Week
    • Georgia Clancy – Mar. 4 after No. 10 Azusa Pacific – Honorable Mention Freshman of the Week

SCOUTING THE BEARS
Roster • Schedule/Results • Meet Notes

• The 10-time defending NCATA national champion, Baylor enters Saturday with a 7-0 record and is averaging 279.234 points per meet.
• The Bears carry a 57-meet winning streak dating back to March 27, 2021, and surpassed 280 points for the third time this season in their last meet — a 281.030–266.045 win at No. 4 Iona on March 9.
• Head coach Felecia Mulkey has won all 14 NCATA national championships, including four at Oregon (2009-14) and 10 consecutive titles at Baylor from 2015-24.

UP NEXT

• Duquesne returns home for its regular-season finale on Thursday, April 9, hosting La Salle at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. Admission is free to all home meets, and the contest will be streamed on ESPN+.

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
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.