Nov. 8, 2015
VALPARAISO, IN—Vanderbilt won nine of its 13 matches over the weekend but it could not find a winning combination against methodical McKendree and had to settle for second place at the Crusader Classic Sunday.
The Bearcats had Vandy’s number indeed, winning all four meetings between the two teams over the three-day tournament, including a pair of 4-3 Baker games Sunday that were decided by narrow margins.
Vandy had its chances to win the title in the sixth game of the best of seven Bakers but couldn’t quite close the deal. That pushed things to a seventh and deciding game which produced offensive fireworks.
Vandebilt bolted to the lead with the front four against two opens in three frames by McKendree. The Bearcats then strung six strikes in a row, their longest run of the tourney, while Vanderbilt couldn’t match the production. There was still an outside chance to win in the tenth but it was not to be as McKendree emerged, 225-215.
“I give McKendree credit,” said Coach John Willamson. “They made more shots than we did. We enter every tournament with a goal of having a chance to win on the last day and we were right there at the end, we just couldn’t finish it off. We learned a lot here and come away a bit disappointed but realizing we had some very good moments.”
The Commodores polished off traditionally strong programs such as Nebraska (twice), Arkansas State, Central Missouri and Wisconsin-Whitewater among their victims.
Junior Nicole Powell made her first all-tournament team with an exceptional Saturday. The southpaw averaged 209.20 to finish fifth individually.
Vanderbilt will welcome an off-week from tournament travel before heading to the Hawk Classic, hosted by Maryland-Eastern Shore.
