Bowlers ragged in season opener

Oct. 23, 2010

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Vanderbilt struggled through much of its season’s first competition Saturday. The Commodores played Alabama A & M and Alabama State in both team and Baker games in the first annual Bulldog Classic.

Vanderbilt dropped the team and Baker games (in a roll-off) to host Alabama A & M before splitting with Alabama State in the afternoon.

Brittni Hamilton had two steady individual games with a 208-204 while Jessica Earnest recorded a 215 against Alabama State for the team’s top score. The coaches were pleased with the play of sophomore Lauren Rhein but for the most part the team struggled with spare conversions and never seemed to zero in on the lane conditions.

Vanderbilt bowled all eight of its travel team although two Commodores did not make the trip. Sophomore Sarah O’Brien underwent hip surgery earlier in the week and will be out an extended length of time. Samantha Hesley did not make the trip while awaiting final NCAA eligibility approval as a transfer student.

The meet was the inaugural contest in Alabama A & M’s new Health and Wellness Center. The university president was on hand to roll out the first ball to mark the occasion and an enthusiastic Bulldog fan base also came out to see the sparkling new facility.

The Commodores were rated fourth in the season’s first poll of the National Ten Pin Coaches Association. That poll is found below today’s results.

Alabama A&M 914 Vanderbilt 864
Ellen Morrison 165
Kayla Rhoades 162
Amanda Halter 148
Jessica Earnest 181
Brittni Hamilton 208

Best 4 of 7 Baker
(Morrison, Rhoades, Halter/Carper, Earnest, Hamilton)

Alabama A & M wins tie-breaker
A&M 192-186
Draw 155-155
VU 196-143
VU 194-143
VU 175-164
AM 205-161
AM 239-165
AM 148-77 5 frame roll-off

Vanderbilt 914 Alabama State 835
Morrison 175
Courtney Morgan 143
Carper 177
Hamilton 204
Earnest 215

4 of 7 Baker
(Morrison, Morgan, Loren Rhein, Hamilton, Earnest)

Alabama State 4 Vanderbilt 3
VU 168-148
AS 202-166
VU 198-194
AS 187-183
AS 181-156
VU 197-169
AS 225-173

2010-11 NTCA PRESEASON NATIONAL POLL
Rank
1. Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ — 823 (19)
2. Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne, MD — 749 (5)
3. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE — 738 (2)
4. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN — 719 (3)
5. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO — 603
6. Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR — 495
7. Delaware State University, Dover, DE — 443
8. New Jersey City University, Jersey City, NJ — 419
9. Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA — 393
10. Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT — 387
11. Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN — 355
12. Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL — 233
13. Adelphi University, Garden City, NY — 188
14. University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI — 155
15. St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, NY — 132
16. Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD — 121
17. Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN — 101
18. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL — 74
19. Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA — 66
20. Louisiana Tech, Ruston, LA — 62