| 4/13/2006
HOUSTON, TX—Vanderbilt rallied during the afternoon qualifying round and grabbed a six seed heading into double elimination play tomorrow at the NCAA Bowling Championship Thursday. Seeds were determined by total pins over four team games and four baker games. The Commodores will face third-seed Central Missouri State, last year’s runner-up, Friday morning. “We came out tight,” said Coach John Williamson. “We were way too nervous but with so many freshmen in the lineup that was to be expected. We came into our own in the baker game round and got some pins back that we lost early, which is a good sign since the rest of the tournament is baker games. That should give us confidence.” Vanderbilt made its move in the baker games, which each of the five team members alternates bowling a frame. Ironically, these games have been the team’s Achilles heel until recently. The youthful Commodores, making their first appearance with five freshmen in their usual lineup, appeared tight in the four morning team games and were in eighth position after three early games. In the process, Vanderbilt had two of its lowest productions in 92 games this season. One that struggled in the morning rounds was Michelle Peloquin, who entered the event with a 212 average (second highest in the NCAA) over 64 games. The Enfield,Ct., freshman fought through back spasms and very uncharacteristically turned in three scores under 170 and just one 206 that approximated her usual steady self. The national freshman of the year candidate came back to do an excellent job of anchoring in the afternoon. “My lower back started hurting early,” Peloquin said, “and that is the first time that has ever happened. We all bowled better in the afternoon after we got over the jitters. It took some time getting used to the surrounding. In the afternoon the lane patterns were different, more oil, and that helped make it easier for me picking up spares. The lane conditions were difficult most of the day.” Peloquin’s day did not end with the bowling. She was headed back to the team hotel to take a required two hour chemistry exam in addition to having treatment on her back. One Commodore highlight was the sterling performance of senior Jennifer Redmond, who made the most of her final team game. The engineering honors student from Charlotte, N.C. was inserted into the lineup for the fourth and final game of the morning round and she responded with a 207, her best score of the year and her third best in NCAA competition. She had averaged 157 over six games this year. “I was not as nervous as I might usually be since I had the opportunity to watch the first three games,” Redmond said. “I think this allowed me to bowl more relaxed. It was a great feeling to be able to contribute.” “I was very impressed with the play of our upperclassmen,” Williamson said. “Jennifer’s 207 came when we needed a boost and both Christine Luce and Jessica Tower performed well.” In the first round of Friday action, the No.1 seed will face the No. 8, No. 2 plays No. 7, No. 3 plays No. six, No. 4 plays No. 5. Qualifying Results Nebraska 7773 Team Game Qualifying Farleigh Dickinson 1053 Vanderbilt 800 Kaitlin Reynolds 150 Maryland Eastern Shore 890 Vanderbilt 851 Tower 138 Vanderbilt 919 New Jersey City 897 Luce 169 Vanderbilt 906 Central Missouri 902 Redmond 207 Baker Game Qualifying Scores Game 1: 215-162-166-160-181 |
