Acrobatics & Tumbling | 2/1/2019 1:04:00 PM

    WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University acrobatics and tumbling team has a big test in Sunday's season opener against No. 1-ranked and four-time defending national champion Baylor University but head coach Treasure Fields is embracing the challenge.
    The Bears and the Hilltoppers hit the mats at the ASRC Sunday at 1 p.m.
    "We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to host Baylor this weekend," said Fields, the founding coach of West Liberty's A&T program. "Competing against the top programs in our sport exposes our student-athletes to the level of competition we are striving to develop in our program over the next couple of years."
    Fields says her young squad has been able to build off the solid foundation laid during last year's debut season and is ready to take the next step up the competitive ladder this spring.
    A solid recruiting class has combined with a strong nucleus of returning student-athletes to give the Black and Gold a deeper and more talented roster as they head into the 2019 season.
    "I have seen considerable improvement in our team at all levels of the meet throughout our practice sessions," Fields said. "We are going into our second season with higher start values across the board and a full roster, which should make us much more competitive against a very challenging schedule."
    It doesn't get any more challenging than Sunday's opponent as Baylor, led by 2018 NCATA Coach of the Year Felecia Mulkey, brings a veteran lineup and a 19-meet winning streak to the hilltop for the mutual season opener.
    Mulkey welcomes back nine seniors – including 2018 NCATA Most Outstanding Athlete Ceara Gray and 2018 NCATA Specialist of the Year Kaylee Adams – from last year's national championship squad as the Bears begin their quest for a fifth consecutive national crown.
    "Our goal from Day One has been to be a better team tomorrow than we are today," Fields said. "My expectations for this season is that we continue to have fun working toward that goal and live up to the high standards we have set for our developing program. We can't wait to get started."
    Sunday's match will be the first of three consecutive home meets for the West Liberty A&T squad. The Hilltoppers return to the ASRC on Saturday to host No. 6-ranked Fairmont State before hosting Concordia (Wis.) and Davis & Elkins in a triangular on Feb. 17.