Oregon acrobatics and tumbling coach Chelsea Shaw spoke numerous times this season about a fire brewing in her team. After falling to Hawaii Pacific 282.050-280.295 on March 27, Shaw said her team’s competitive fire had grown into a flame.
“It’s way more lit than it has ever been before,” she said.
Oregon used that fire to defeat Hawaii Pacific 283.495-281.325 in the semifinals on the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association Championship tournament. The Ducks will face off against Baylor in the championship meet at 4 p.m. (PT)
In the compulsory event, Oregon grabbed a 38.90-38.70 lead. Hawaii Pacific won the next two events to head into halftime with a 98.10-97.60 lead.
Oregon opened up halftime with a perfect 10 score in the two-element toss. In the total toss event, Oregon scored a 29.15 – its highest score in the event all season – to retake the lead.
The Ducks took advantage of higher starting totals in the tumbling event. Hawaii Pacific had equal starting values in two of the six heats, but had a lower value in the rest of the heats. The Ducks took the tumbling event by more than a full point to set up the final event.
Back when the two teams met a month ago, the situation going into the team routine was the same. Oregon had a slim lead. Hawaii Pacific outscored Oregon 101.10-99.27 in the final event to win the meet.
This time, Oregon outscored Hawaii Pacific 99.22-98.45 to win and advance to the finals.

That’s the reaction from a team who won and will advance to tonight’s championship meet!! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/2K9BP6HurS
— OregonAcro&Tumbling (@OregonAcroTumb) April 25, 2015

Oregon – seeking its fifth straight national title – will take on undefeated Baylor for the third time this season in the finals. At Matthew Knight Arena, Baylor comeback to beat Oregon by more than a full point. In Baylor, Oregon lost by almost 10 full points, 284.245-274.640.
Follow Joseph Hoyt on Twitter @JoeJHoyt