Bowlers win New Jersey championship

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Nov. 1, 2015

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Vanderbilt’s championship Sunday at the New Jersey Jamboree provided the Commodores with a big dose of confidence.

The Commodores defeated traditional power Maryland-Eastern Shore in the quarterfinal, then beat two of the nation’s top four rated teams – host Fairleigh Dickinson and Arkansas State – back-to-back to earn the New Jersey tourney for the first time since 2008.

“Anytime you win it inspires confidence,” Coach John Williamson said, “and to win against one of the biggest and strongest tournament fields adds to the belief. We talked about playing with a purpose; today we never had a sense that we were in trouble. We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves, however, as this is just the second tournament of the season.”

Williamson had high praise for his entire lineup, which was steady as it posted high Baker game scores throughout the day. That lineup – Tori Ferris, Jordan Newham, Giselle Poss, Kristin Quah and Robyn Renslow – fired on all cylinders. He said he “couldn’t be more proud” of Ferris’ performance.

“It was a tremendous team experience,” said senior Ferris, who is seeing the most playing time in several years. “I knew I had a line early on and I wanted to make the most of my chance to play.”

Ferris, who said she practiced three times a day during the summer, entered fall practice feeling “the best I’ve felt coming into a season” and her play in the first two tournaments bears that out.

“I didn’t finish the first game too well,” Ferris admitted, “and then we were reminded of the strike test that everyone on the team takes and passes in practice. I kept that strike test in mind for some confidence and then we just got on a roll. We were communicating well and lifting each other up.”

The Commodores topped UMES and FDU by 4-2 margins and then defeated Arkansas State – a team Williamson termed “a pinfall machine”, by a 4-1-1edge in the title game.

Vanderbilt went 11-2 over the three day event, pushing its young season record to 19-8.

Vanderbilt has a short week, heading to Valparaiso’s Crusader Classic this weekend.