Nov. 16, 2017
Vanderbilt concludes its grueling month with its fourth straight weekend tournament. The season began on the plains of Illinois, then veered south to Houston’s heat and last weekend the blustery climes of Wisconsin. This week the Commodores are in Delaware for Maryland-Eastern Shore’s Hawk Classic, played Friday through Sunday at the Millsboro Lanes, Millsboro, Del.
Tourney format: A standard format starting with the five, 5-Game Bakers Friday at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. The five team games Saturday begin at 10:05 a.m. and Sunday’s bracket of Baker games are at 8:30 a.m.
Competing teams (16): Caldwell, Coppin State, Delaware State, Franklin Pierce, Howard, Kutztown, LIU-Brooklyn, UMES, Monmouth, North Carolina A&T, Sacred Heart, Sam Houston, St. Francis (NY), St. Francis (Pa), Tulane, Vanderbilt.
About this tournament: At one point in time, Vanderbilt had won the Hawk Classic five times in six years with the last title coming in 2011. Two years ago Vandy finished second and the event was not on the schedule last season.
Following the tournament: As fans have realized, there have been transmission issues at several of this fall’s venues. This week the Commodores are once again planning to stream live on their YouTube channel, This is found here. If there are issues with YouTube, it will be carried on Vandy’s Facebook live site. Facebook and Twitter accounts @Vandy Bowling will also have score updates.
Travel squad capsules:
Kelsey Abrahamsen: The freshman saw spot duty during her first college tournament last week.
Maria Bulanova: The Vanderbilt anchor averaged 235 to win the Warhawk Classic last week.
Samantha Gainor: Continues to be a steady presence in the lineup after three collegiate tournaments, bowling in the second and third spots. She was 15th in Wisconsin, averaging 205.20 with a personal high game of 255.
Jordan Newham: Slid into the fourth spot of the Baker rotation and was tremendously effective setting the table for Bulanova. Had just one missed makeable spare during last Friday’s long day of Bakers and struck with regularity.
Kristin Quah: Made the all-tournament team in the fall’s first tournament and led Vandy in the second tourney’s team play but struggled last week in Wisconsin.
Emily Rigney: Was it the glasses? Or just throwing it better? The sophomore regained her splendid spring form last week in the leadoff spot while wearing glasses for the first time. She was 14th at the Warhawk averaging 205.60 in six games.
Katie Stark: The lone senior on the travel squad; She saw a lot of play last week during the team games portion. She ended her junior season as the Southland tournament MVP and was all-tournament at the NCAA Championship. She and Rigney are the two left-handers on the roster.
Where’s Adel? The New Mexico sophomore will not travel as she attends the funeral services of her grandfather.
Last week: The Commodores ran their season record to 25-14 with a third place finish at Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Warhawk Classic. Maria Bulanova won her first individual collegiate championship.
Next up: Vanderbilt gets a welcome break until mid-January that will allow the team to concentrate on academics and get in the winter holiday spirit.