Oct. 28, 2006
HUNTSVILLE, AL—A deeper and more balanced Vanderbilt bowling team started its season in impressive style, blanking defending NCAA runner-up Alabama A & M on its home lanes.
The Commodores, ranked fourth in the year’s first poll, swept all three team games in which total pin fall was the criteria for the point. Vanderbilt racked up advantages of 1,006-919 in the first game, 1,025 – 1,022 in the second and 1,036 -922 in the last game to total a hefty 3,067-2,870 edge.
In the Baker games, a best four of seven, Vanderbilt won the first two, dropped the second two and then powered away in the fifth and sixth games to win that point and clinch the team victory.
“I thought it was a good first outing,” Coach John Williamson said. “The highlight of our day was our ability to regain our composure after we had lost a tough third game in the Baker event and come back aggressively at the end. That was nice and it is a step in the direction we want to see this year. I thought the maturity of our sophomores made a difference.”
After the Commodores had beaten the No. 5 rated Bulldogs by 200-160 and 224-198 margins in the first Baker games, it appeared they were cruising to an easy victory in game three before concluding that game with two straight open frames. In the meantime, A & M was putting together a big string of strikes to win at the wire, 216-211.
Vanderbilt demonstrated its depth in a number of ways during the day. Freshman Josie Earnest, making her college debut, served as lead-off and responded with scores of 246-224 and 202 in the team games.
Tara Kane led the way in the second team game with a 234 and again in Game 3 with a 237 with sophomore classmate Michelle Peloquin tallying a 224 in the last game.
Kaitlin Reynolds did not bowl in the first game but was inserted in the lineup in the second game and responded with a 206. Another freshman making her debut was Ashley Belden, who went into the lineup in the third game and had a 179.
“I had a lot of fun out there,” said Earnest, a two-time United State Junior Team member. “I maybe was a little nervous on my first ball but I quickly settled down. Other than practice, I had never bowled Baker games competitively and they are exciting because you only have two frames to make a contribution.”
Peloquin, a first-team All-American and national freshman of the year last season, had a workman-like day and noted one difference with this year’s team.
“We’re quite a bit different this year, our dynamic is different,” Peloquin noted. “I think we showed that our big efforts this year will come from a variety of people. When we lost our momentum in the Baker games, we didn’t back off – we want a mindset of pushing the envelope and we did that today.”
Peloquin also noted the significance of the win.
“We didn’t put much emphasis on this match because it is so early in the year but we have a lot of respect for Alabama A & M, especially on their home lanes. Last year we came down here as freshmen with expectations and they bowled lights out and beat us. Then we saw what they did at the NCAA’s so we have plenty of respect for their ability.”
Scoring
Team Game 1 Vanderbilt 1,006 Alabama A & M 919
Josie Earnest 245
Mandy Keily 201
Karen Grygiel 151
Tara Kane 215
Michelle Peloquin 193
Game 2 VU 1,025 A & M 1,022
Earnest 224
Keily/Grygiel 158
Kaitlin Reynolds 206
Kane 234
Peloquin 203
Game 3 VU 1,036 A & M 922
Earnest 202
Ashley Belden 179
Reynolds 194
Kane 237
Peloquin 224
Baker Games (best of seven)
1) VU 200-160
2) VU 224-198
3) A & M 216-211
4) A & M 195-162
5) VU 202-174
6) VU 246-190
NCTA Top 10 Poll (National Ten Pin Coaches Association)
1. Farleigh Dickinson
2. Nebraska
3. Central Missouri
4. Vanderbilt
5. Alabama A & M
6. New Jersey City
7. Maryland – Eastern Shore
8. Arkansas State
9. Bethune Cookman
10. Sacred Heart
