Bowlers win fourth title in Maryland

Feb. 15, 2009

PERRY HALL, Md. – Vanderbilt seized control of a Valentine’s Weekend showdown involving many of the nation’s top bowling teams and won a thrilling championship at the Morgan State Invitational.

After both Vanderbilt and third-ranked Nebraska had knocked down nearly 8,800 pins each over two long days, it was the No. 1 rated Commodores that prevailed by a mere six pins over the Huskers.

The Black and Gold began the day 76 pins behind the Big Red and also trailing No. 2 rated Fairleigh Dickinson. They quickly grabbed the lead in the 30-team event by crafting an 850-pin effort in the morning’s first game, a commanding win over defending national champion Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Vanderbilt, now 67-13 on the year, followed that strong game with the tournament’s best score in the four-game Baker sets, topping Norfolk State 882-764.

The Commodores defeated host Morgan State in the third Baker game, setting the stage for a show-down of sorts with Nebraska in Game Four.

Vanderbilt won that game by 35 pins and then topped Winston-Salem State to finish their weekend with a perfect 10-0 record.

“This tournament was the first one this year where we struggled in the team games (played Saturday) but played the Bakers like we believe we can play them,” said Coach John Williamson. “That is very encouraging.”

The tournament championship is Vanderbilt’s fourth of the year, equaling the number of titles it won en route to the 2007 NCAA Championship. This one was a team effort as not one Commodore made the all-tournament team. VU had placed four on a five person all-tourney team earlier this spring.

Freshman Brittni Hamilton continued her excellent season in leading the team with an average of 198 over five games. Michelle Peloquin was ninth at 194.2 and Josie Earnest was just behind in 12th. Nebraska’s Cassie Leuthold won the individual title.

The Commodores travel to Indianapolis next weekend in a non-NCAA competition where they will face a field composed entirely of many of the nation’s best club teams.

Final Team Leaderboard (30 teams)
Vanderbilt – 8,803
Nebraska – 8,797
FDU – 8,552
UMES – 8,459
Delaware St. – 8,374

Sunday’s Vanderbilt Results (4-game Baker sets)

VU 850, UMES 785
VU 232-156
VU 240-153
UM 244-182
UM 222-197

VU 882, Norfolk State 764
VU 204-200
VU 246-155
N 241-206
VU 226-168

VU 771, Morgan State 750
VU 204-184
MS 210-195
VU 190-179
VU 182-177

VU 750, Nebraska 715
VU 176-175
N 196-160
VU 184-178
VU 230-168

VU 784, Winston Salem St. 610
VU 202-176
VU 189-123
VU 211-195
VU 182-116