Bowlers fade on Sunday at Holiday Classic

March 1, 2009

BESSEMER, Ala. – What a difference a few hours can make. The Vanderbilt bowling team left the Holiday Bowling Center here late Saturday afternoon with the swagger of a top-rated team after a dominating performance on a near record day.

A little more than 12 hours later, the same team on the same lanes suddenly seemed ordinary, its confidence shaken. What could have happened to Saturday’s magic overnight?

It was a Tale of Two Days and when this one was mercifully over, Vanderbilt’s 279 pin first-day lead was ancient history, it was in second place at the Holiday Bowling Classic and very disappointed with its performance.

The Black and Gold’s silver lining continued to be the outstanding performance of junior Josie Earnest, who won the individual champion after Sunday scores of 206-232-214-198-225-186 after averaging 233 yesterday over six games.

“We just didn’t show up,” said Coach John Williamson. “We seemed in a daze that first game and in the process Nebraska gained over 200 pins on us. We never got back on our feet and to Nebraska’s credit, when we gave them an opening they took advantage of it.”

On the day, the Commodores won just three of six matches, ending with two losses in which they couldn’t crack the 900 pin plateau. They barely topped 800 in a shaky win over Kutztown to open the day and in-between their scores were respectable but not enough.

It is spring break on the Vanderbilt campus and it probably comes at a good time for the bowlers, whose final regular season tournament of the year is their own Music City Classic March 13-15 at the Smyrna Bowling Center.

Final Team Leaders (16 teams competing)
Nebraska 11,993
Vanderbilt 11,713
Central Missouri 11,643

Sunday’s Results

VU 839 Kutztown 780
Grygiel 157
Peloquin 174
Kane 156
Hamilton 146
Earnest 206

Sacred Heart 961 VU 956
Grygiel 178
Peloquin 182
Kane 149
Hamilton 215
Earnest 214

VU 1,014 Wisconsin-Whitewater 912
Garcia 214
Peloquin 191
Grygiel 214
Hamilton 181
Earnest 214

VU 1,013 Grand Canyon 812
Grygiel 175
Peloquin 242
Garcia 185
Hamilton 213
Earnest 198

Central Missouri 937 VU 898
Garcia 148
Peloquin 158
Grygiel 204
Hamilton 163
Earnest 225

Arkansas State 932 VU 896
Kane 162
Garcia 162
Grygiel 167
Hamilton 213
Earnest 186