Road Trip Continues Friday at Iona

EUGENE, Ore. – The second-ranked Oregon acrobatics and tumbling program will face Iona for the first time in program history on Friday, March 28, at 3 p.m. PT in New Rochelle, N.Y.

MEET INFO
When: Friday, March 28
Where: Hynes Athletic Center | New Rochelle, N.Y.
Time: 3 p.m. PT
TV/Stream: ESPN+

MOVIN' ON UP
After a 4-1 start to the regular season, the Oregon acrobatics and tumbling team earned the No. 2 ranking in the first NCATA poll of the season. The Ducks, who ranked fourth in the preseason coaches poll, already sport three wins against teams ranked in the latest poll - at No. 3 Quinnipiac, vs. No. 7 Mary Hardin-Baylor and vs. No. 11 Gannon. Oregon has scored 272.000 or higher in all five meets so far this season and has set multiple bests during the tenure of head coach Taylor Susnara.

» The Ducks ranked second in the first poll of the 2023 season en route to a national championship appearance.
» Both of the Ducks' remaining regular season meets are against ranked teams - at No. 7 Iona and at No. 1 Baylor.

THE DUCKS vs. THE GAELS
Oregon stays on the road this week for its first ever matchup with the eighth-ranked Iona Gaels, who are in their second season of competition. The Gaels enter Friday's meet with three wins over top-15 ranked teams, including a victory over No. 7 Mary Hardin-Baylor. Iona competed in its first ever NCATA championship last season in the event finals, placing fifth in the inversion pyramid.

» Iona is coached by former Duck Jacquie Eshleman.

KEEPIN' IT 10.0
The Ducks earned their first 10.0 of the season last time out against Baylor, scoring perfect in the open pyramid heat. UO employed a technical tweak to that heat, rotating Oregon's group - Blessyn McMorris, Bella Swarthout, Brylie Hoover, Emily Rezner and Selah Bell - 90 degrees to face the team's sideline, and it resulted in a flawless mark a week after earning a 9.90. The Ducks have now gone perfect 16 times in the open pyramid and the 26 times in the pyramid event all-time.

BASES SETTING THE STANDARD
Three bases - Bella Swarthout, Blessyn McMorris and Angelica Martin - have all been recognized by the NCATA following the throughout the season. Swarthout earned honorable mention athlete of the week recognition, McMorris received an honorable mention specialist of the week nod, and Martin was tabbed honorable mention freshman of the week for the third time after the win over UMHB before her fourth recognition came after the Ducks' win over Quinnipiac.

» Martin was the Freshman of the Week on March 12, an honor Swarthout and McMorris have both claimed in their careers.
» McMorris earned Freshman of the Week honors three times in 2022 before being named the Freshman of the Year.
» McMorris earned Athlete of the Week recognition following UO's win over Morgan State.

ROAD WARRIORS
Oregon put together a come-from-behind victory in their first road meet of the season against No. 2 Quinnipiac, winning 275.180-256.005. The Ducks, who never led the meet until the very end, scored a 91.830 in the team event to cap a strong second half and stretch the winning streak to three meets. It marked the Ducks' first win over Quinnipiac since the 2020 season and first on the road since 2019.

SWEET ENDING ON SENIOR NIGHT
The Ducks closed the home season in style with a 275.180-256.005 win over No. 5 Mary Hardin-Baylor for UO's second ranked win in a row. Oregon never trailed against the Crusaders, using high scores in acro and pyramid to build a first half lead and set up a dominant second half. The Ducks scored a 29.00 in the acro event, their highest mark since the 2022.

TOP-FOUR CLASH GOES TO THE DUCKS
After some miscues early, Oregon used a dominant second half to secure its first ranked win of the season over No. 3 Gannon, 276.565-263.465. The Ducks held a slight edge at the break but outpointed the Golden Knights in all three events afterwards to seal the win. Tumbling was the Ducks' biggest strength of the night as UO posted a 58.025 total for the event - the highest mark since the 2017 season. The Ducks sealed the win with a 97.240 team event score, the second-highest score UO has posted this year and third-highest under head coach Taylor Susnara.

OPENING WITH A BOOM
The Ducks opened the 2025 season in style by beating Morgan State, 281.205-256.145. Both Oregon's team total and team event score (99.18) were the program's highest since the 2021 season and highest under head coach Taylor Susnara. UO's total was also the highest in a season-opening meet since the Ducks scored 281.480 to start the 2015 season.

» The Ducks continued to shine in the pyramid event, scoring 29.65 against the Bears. UO has now scored 29.00 or better in eight of nine meets dating back to last season.
» The Ducks' team event tally was just the fifth score of 99.00-plus since the 2018 season.