Oct. 24, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, MO -Vanderbilt began its Saturday afternoon dropping a game to a team in its first year of NCAA existence but finished with a fury, topping the top-rated team in the nation in the process.
When the crack of falling pins had ceased, the Commodores led the Greater Ozark Invitational by a wide margin and a youthful Black and Gold team took a step toward maturity in what is a long bowling season.
After dropping games to Stephen F. Austin and Louisiana Tech to open their day, Coach John Williamson shuffled his lineup and moved All-American Brittni Hamilton into the lead-off spot against the Huskers. That could have been the spark that ignited the `Dores, who topped Nebraska by a 1,075-1,021 margin.
Vanderbilt caught fire and closed with 1,082 pins in a win over Southern and 1,096 against Valparaiso to finish the day with a nifty 1,032 average, far ahead of second place Arkansas State’s (3-2) 970 standard. Louisiana Tech (4-1) was in third place and Nebraska in fourth after going 2-3 on the day. Total pins determine the tournament, not match play.
Hamilton had the second best average of the day (221) with efforts of 263-194-225-246-179.
An Earnest was in fourth place overall for Vanderbilt but it was not two-time NCAA Player of the Year Josie. Rather, it was her freshman sister Jessica who posted scores of 163-242-234 and 226 after sitting out the second game. Vanderbilt had six of the top 15 individuals.
The Commodores’ second entry is leading the Open Division of the tournament, as well, on the strength of some powerful scoring. This unit rolled a tremendous 1,138 in one game while freshman Courtney Morgan had a 279, which equals the third best ever by a Commodore.
“We began the day seeming to be in the same funk as yesterday,” Williamson said, “but we got some momentum in that third game and then bowled like we are capable of bowling the rest of the afternoon.”
Vanderbilt brought its entire squad and Williamson was impressed with his “B” entry, which also averaged over 1,000 pins per game with several strong performances.
The tournament moves to Baker play tomorrow as the 10-team tournament concludes.
Stephen F. Austin 981 – Vanderbilt 937
Jessica Earnest-163
Kim Carper-172
Kayla Rhoades-168
Brittni Hamilton-263
Josie Earnest-171
Louisiana Tech 1,018 – Vanderbilt 1,001
Ashley Belden-154
Amanda Halter-241
Carper-196
Hamilton-194
Josie Earnest-216
Vanderbilt 1,075 – Nebraska 1,021
Hamilton-225
Jessica Earnest-242
Halter-183
Carper-212 (Rhoades threw four strikes to close game)
Josie Earnest-213
Vanderbilt 1,082 – Southern 972
Hamilton-246
Jessica Earnest-234
Rhoades-196
Carper-224
Josie Earnest-182
Vanderbilt 1,096 – Valparaiso 885
Hamilton-179
Jessica Earnest-226
Rhoades-246
Carper-190
Josie Earnest-255
