Nov. 6, 2015
Crusader Classic: Vanderbilt barely had time to unpack from its New Jersey trip and it’s now off to northern Indiana and Valparaiso’s Crusader Classic Friday through Sunday.
Who else is competing?: Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Arkansas State, Aurora, Central Missouri, Elmhurst, McKendree, Monmouth, Nebraska, Prairie View, Tulane, Valparaiso, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Tourney Field Facts: The 14-team field features 11 of the nation’s top-25 teams and six of the pre-season top-10. This is the 7th annual Crusader Classic, with six of the previous champions in this year’s field: Nebraska – 2010 and 2014; Valparaiso – 2011; Central Missouri – 2012; Arkansas State – 2013.
Tourney format:
Friday – 10:05 CST: five, 5-game Bakers
Saturday – 9:25 CST: five traditional games
Sunday – 8:55 CST best-of-seven Bakers
Quick turnaround coming off a win: Vanderbilt won the New Jersey Jamboree Sunday, its first team title at that tournament since 2008. The Commodores got stronger as the tourney wore on and ended with back-to-back wins over the nation’s fourth and second rated teams. The ‘Dores had just two days of practice before flying out Thursday morning as Mondays are non-practice days at Vandy.
Following the tourney: Vandy will use the same livestream link it employed last week. Here is that link: http://thecube.com/cube/vanderbilt-bowling. Game updates can be found on Vandy Bowling’s Twitter (@VandyBowling) and Facebook pages.
Travel warriors: Vandy will stick with the same travel contingent – seniors Robyn Renslow, Amanda Fry and Tori Ferris; junior Giselle Poss and Nicole Powell; sophomore Katie Stark and freshmen Kristin Quah and Jordan Newham.
Last year’s result here: Vanderbilt left the Inman Center disappointed with a fifth place finish. Robyn Renslow had averaged nearly 212 pins per game in team play to finish second individually.
New poll coming: The National Ten Pin Coaches Association (NTCA) will release its November poll next week. It will be the first poll of the season that’s based on competition to date.
