EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 2 Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team faces a top-three opponent for the second consecutive meet when No. 3 Quinnipiac visits Matthew Knight Arena on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT.
MEET INFO
When: Saturday, March 16
Where: Matthew Knight Arena | Eugene, Ore.
Time: 4 p.m. PT
Watch: http://pac-12.com/live/university-oregon-10
Live Stats: https://goducks.com/sports/2022/2/28/acro-scores
TOP-THREE MATCHUP IN EUGENE
Oregon prepares for its second-consecutive meet against a top-three opponent as the Ducks face No. 3 Quinnipiac. Oregon is off to a 1-1 start, defeating No. 9 Hawai’i Pacific in the season opener before dropping a tight contest against No. 1 Baylor on the road. Quinnipiac is 2-0 to begin the season and has been one of the top teams in acrobatics and tumbling over the past decade, making six appearances in the NCATA semifinals since 2016.
THE DUCKS vs. THE BOBCATS
This will be the 16th all-time meeting between Oregon and Quinnipiac and the first since 2022. The Ducks lead the all-time series 12-3, but the Bobcats have won each of the last two contests and three of the last five. Quinnipiac owns the slight edge in average team score this season with a mark of 267.710, while Oregon is averaging 266.043.
LAST TIME OUT
Oregon had top-ranked Baylor on the ropes after four events, but the Bears came back to spoil the upset bid and defeat the Ducks 278.935-271.585 on Feb. 25 in Waco, Texas. Oregon used three solid events in the pyramid heat to take a 96.00-95.60 lead over Baylor and held that lead through a tightly-contested toss event in which the home team won 28.85-28.55. In the tumbling event, the Bears needed a9.95 in the six element pass and a 9.90 in the open pass to pull back ahead of the Ducks. Looking to make a comeback effort in the team event for the second-straight meet, Oregon put together a season-high score of 90.16 but fell short of Baylor’s 96.66, cutting the upset bid short.
FRESHMAN IMPACT
Oregon freshman Bella Swarthout is one of several newcomers to make an impact for the Ducks this season. The base was recognized by the NCATA after her performances against Baylor, earning honorable mention for the organization’s freshman of the week award in week three. Swarthout competed in six heats and the team event for Oregon, helping the Ducks record six scores of 9.55 or higher including a 9.90 in both the compulsory pyramid and inversion pyramid.
SOARING UNDER SUSNARA
Oregon has reestablished itself as an elite program in year three under head coach Taylor Susnara, being ranked the No. 2 team in the nation entering the 2024 season. The Ducks finished the 2023 season 6-3 while making their way back to the NCATA finals for the first time since 2019. Susnara and the Ducks claimed five regular-season victories over ranked opponents, including upset wins over Azusa Pacific (twice) and Gannon. UO claimed the No. 2 seed for the 2023 NCATA National Championships after earning the No. 5 seed in Susnara’s first season in charge. Susnara was a three-time NCATA All-American for the Ducks from 2015-18 before working as an assistant for three seasons under then-head coach Keenyn Won. Susnara helped Oregon compile a 13-7 record in her three seasons as an assistant before being named the head coach in June of 2021. In her time as head coach, Susnara has coached three all-Americans and 2022 NCATA Freshman of the Year Blessyn McMorris while guiding her student-athletes to three individual event titles.
– www.GoDucks.com –
