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Duquesne University Athletics

acrobatics and tumbling team during anthem vs. APU 2026
Joe Sargent

Dukes Host La Salle on Senior Night Thursday; Remain No. 9 in NCATA Rankings

4/8/2026 4:30:00 PM

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University acrobatics and tumbling team remained No. 9 in the final regular-season release of the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) national rankings. The Dukes, battling for a spot in the top eight for national championship qualification, return home for Senior Night on Thursday, honoring the program's lone senior, Abby McDermott, in their regular-season finale.

MEET INFO   
No. 9 Duquesne Dukes (2-3) at La Salle Explorers (4-1)
Thursday, April 9 • 6:00 PM
UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse • Pittsburgh, PA
Free Admission • Senior Night

NCATA NATIONAL RANKINGS (Regular Season Release #3 - April 8, 2026)
In just its second season, Duquesne is the youngest in the national rankings. The Dukes have appeared in every top-15 poll since debuting at No. 15 in the preseason rankings ahead of last year's inaugural season.

  1. Baylor University
  2. University of Oregon
  3. Quinnipiac University
  4. Fairmont State University
  5. Augustana University
  6. Iona University
  7. Gannon University
  8. Saint Leo University
  9. Duquesne University
  10. Azusa Pacific University
  11. Glenville State University
  12. Lander University
  13. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
  14. Wingate University
  15. Hawaii Pacific University

 * The top 8 teams in final ranking will qualify for 2026 NCATA National Championships
** Results as of 4/5/26 considered in this week's rankings
*** NCATA Tournament seeds and matchups will be announced on April 13, 2026
**** The NCATA championships committee considers the overall performance of teams throughout the season thus far and utilized the following criteria to consider team rankings: W/L record, strength of schedule, head-to-head competition, common opponents, average meet score (adjusted to remove high/low), average meet start value (adjusted to remove high/low), score differential (adjusted to remove high/low) and the teams' progression throughout the season.

THE DUKES
Roster • Schedule • Team Scores • Individual Scores

  • 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.
  • Season Overview: Duquesne is averaging 256.814 points this season and recently completed a stretch of four consecutive matchups against top-10 opponents, including three on the road. During that span, the Dukes posted a season-high 260.595 at No. 6 Fairmont State and defeated then-No. 10 Azusa Pacific at home, sweeping all six events with a 258.670. Duquesne opened the campaign with a 255.130 in a nearly 40-point win over West Liberty. All three losses have come on the road against top-10 opponents — at No. 9 Gannon, No. 6 Fairmont State and No. 1 Baylor.
  • Last Time Out: Duquesne traveled to No. 1 Baylor on March 28, scoring 255.030 in a 278.300–255.030 loss. The Dukes recorded three heats over 9.70, including a 9.85 in inversion pyramid, and 9.75 in five-element acro, and 9.70 in compulsory pyramid. In the second half, they added a program-best quad pass of 7.850 (out of 8.75). The pyramid event deductions were just 0.85 across the three heats (29.15 out of 30).
  • Record Book Update: Duquesne has surpassed 16 of its 19 heat records from its inaugural season, 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.
  • Near Perfect: The Dukes have recorded three heat scores of 9.90 or higher this season, highlighted by a program-record 9.95 in compulsory toss against Azusa Pacific. Duquesne also scored a 9.90 in inversion pyramid in the same meet and a 9.90 in five-element acro in the season opener against West Liberty. The Dukes have charted less than a point total deductions in the pyramid event in each of the last four 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) 

SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS
Roster • Schedule/Results

  • La Salle became the 54th NCATA member and 11th in Division I, announcing the addition of its varsity program on April 17, 2024. The Explorers took a year to recruit and debuted their inaugural team this season. La Salle, who was No. 15 in the NCATA Preseason Poll, is 4-1 overall and averaging 241.944 points per meet.
  • Head coach Brianna D'Angelo leads a roster of 25 freshmen, three sophomores, and two graduate students.
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.
 
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