NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt opens its season Friday at Tulane’s Colonial Lanes Classic in Harahan, Louisiana.
It’s the 18th year of the Commodores’ program but there are some new elements to be aware of and also a return to more normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted much of the 2020-21 season.
NEW YOUTUBE HOME
Vanderbilt bowling will be found this year on the athletic department’s YouTube channel, not the VandyBowling site. This will bring a sharp increase in viewership for the Commodores.
DOUBLE THE CAMERAS
Vandy fans watching from their home will now be able to see both the action and the scoreboard as the Commodores will employ two cameras, one trained on the bowlers and the other aimed specifically at the scoreboard. This should solve a sport-wide viewing frustration of not always being able to know the match score situation.
STARTING TIMES
The Colonial Lanes Classic, formerly the Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic, begins Friday with open practice at 9:30 a.m. and play beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday’s play begins at 8:55 a.m. and Sunday starts at 8:30 a.m.
FORMAT
Tulane is using a standard college format with five Baker games Friday, five traditional games Saturday with the combined pin fall creating a Sunday championship bracket of three Baker clashes to determine the final team standings.
COMPETING TEAMS
Alabama State, UAB, Florida A&M, Grambling, Jackson State, Lincoln Memorial, Louisiana Tech, Maryland-Eastern Shore, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas Southern, Tulane and Vanderbilt.
DORES TRAVELING EVERYONE
Vanderbilt is taking its entire 11-woman roster on the trip.
That entails graduate student Samantha Gainor, seniors Angelique Dalesandro and Angelica Anthony, juniors Amelia Kiefer and Mabel Cummins, sophomores Jennifer Loredo, Caroline Thesier and Amanda Naujokas and freshmen Kailee Channell, Paige Peters and Kaylee Hitt.
SPECTATORS CAN BE THERE, TOO
Last season, COVID-19 protocols did not allow fans to attend tournaments. But happily, this year, fans are expected to be allowed at this weekend’s venue.
Spectators must wear face masks in keeping with Louisiana state law for indoor facilities but student-athletes will not be required to wear masks as they did last season.
VANDY RANKED FOURTH
Vanderbilt was ranked fourth in preseason polling conducted by the National Ten Pin Coaches Association.
The preseason poll often resembles how things ended last spring so Nebraska topped the list with 34 of the 50 first-place votes followed by McKendree (seven first place votes), Arkansas State (one first place vote), Vandy (two first place votes) and North Carolina A&T.
Sam Houston State came in sixth with Youngstown State seventh, Fairleigh Dickinson eighth and Louisiana Tech ninth – each with a first-place vote. Stephen F. Austin rounds out the top 10.
VANDY ADDING SOCIAL MEDIA PUNCH
Vanderbilt bowling is taking a promising athletics department communications intern, Alex Venero, on its road trips this year.
Venero, who has shined in her digital coverage of Commodore baseball and football, will be focused on providing insights and storylines on Twitter and Instagram throughout the season.
