April 13, 2018
ST. LOUIS–Nobody promised it would be easy.
When a team reaches the Final Four of a national championship the differences between winning and losing are often minute. Momentum changes are frequent and bowling teams covet a single pin like a pre-schooler yearning to become a kindergartner.
Such was the NCAA Bowling Championship semi-final Friday afternoon between Vanderbilt and Sam Houston State, two Southland Bowling League rivals that are more than familiar with each other after a season of frequent meetings.
On this Friday the 13th, competing for the right to play McKendree in Saturday afternoon’s national championship game, it was the Bearkats prevailing after winning two of the three game components in nerve racking fashion. As a result, the rivals will go at it once again Saturday morning at 9 o’clock where one will advance and the other will have lost its second match and be eliminated.
If Vanderbilt and Sam Houston has an air of deja vu, it should. Vanderbilt had beaten the same team in the tournament opener but Sam Houston had fought back in the loser’s bracket to earn a rematch. And over the entire season’s schedule, Vanderbilt had won five of the prior seven contests. But only this one counted at the moment.
“For the most part, both teams played well,” said Vanderbilt Coach John Williamson. “It’s the kind of match you expect to play when you get this deep in the national championship. We had a few dry spells and that cost us in the team game and Sam Houston bowled just a bit better in the best of seven Bakers (SHS won, 4-2, there) and deserved to win. We showed plenty of fight but made a few too many mistakes.”
Vanderbilt had bowled well during Thursday’s opening sessions and the lineup was left intact as a result. Jordan Newham led off, followed by Kris Quah, Emily Rigney, Katie Stark and Maria Bulanova. Once again the left-handers led the way in the team game with Rigney at 212 and Stark at 205. But the All-American Bulanova struggled with splits and her 156 was not helpful in the 975-948 setback.
The Commodores bounced back to take the 5-Game Baker set, which is based on total pin fall, by a handy margin, 951-863. The score was actually close until the last two games, where VU increased a six pin lead into the final 88-pin margin.
The Black and Gold contingent was feeling good entering the decisive, best of seven Bakers, especially after winning the first game, 218-139. But it was there the match turned. The Bearkats went on several striking binges, totaling scores of 224-235 and 216 to put Vanderbilt on the ropes at 3-1.
The Commodores rallied behind six straight strikes to take game 5, raising hopes and pulling within 3-2 but after strikes from the fifth to the ninth (matched by Sam Houston), a terrific ball by Bulanova in the 10th left a 9-pin standing erect, costing a chance to even the game.
McKendree, seeded No. 2, handed top-seed Nebraska a quick 2-0 defeat and awaits tomorrow morning’s winner. The title game will be live on ESPNU at 5:30 CDT. Vanderbilt’s match with Sam Houston will be live-streamed on NCAA.com.
Spare Shots
* All 10 Vanderbilt bowlers have gotten into the lineup (The NCAA limits each team to no more than 10 bowlers at this tournament.). Adel Wahner was inserted to try a difficult spare conversion that would be easier for a right-handler to attempt and Bryanna Leyen got into the 10th frame of a Baker game.
* It is easy to leave the bowling center with a tired bottom and ringing ears. It’s a long day; with the new format of traditional team games, then 5-Game Bakers and if the teams split those, a best of seven Baker series, matches can last close to four hours each. Between crashing pins, team cheers and chants and screeching, er…enthusiastic fans high level collegiate bowling is anything but sedate.
* Vanderbilt staff members on the trip include Associate Athletic Director Kevin Colon, academic counselor Candice Johnson (herself a former D-1 softball player) and strength and conditioning coach Darren Edginton.
