Feb. 14, 2016
HOUSTON, TX—Vanderbilt won two of three Baker games Sunday to finish the Stormin’ Ladyjack Classic in sixth place with a marked improvement over its play Friday and early Saturday.
The Commodores began the day with the No. 8 seed but avenged Saturday losses to Long Island-Brooklyn and Tulane before losing to Sam Houston State in seven games.
“We finished better than what it appeared we might end up yesterday afternoon,” Coach John Williamson said. “Today we showed some resolve, which was good to see, but we had dug ourselves too big a hole and then had to deal with it the rest of the tournament.”
Sunday produced some tangible bright spots, such as the 290-257 finish against Long Island, throwing 11 straight strikes after a spare to go up 3.5-1.5 and then topping the feisty Blackbirds by two pins in the deciding sixth game.
Tulane had jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the third-ranked Commodores, crafting scores of 252 and 246 in the process. Vandy came back to win four straight, averaging 236.
“It was the first time this year we have been down 3-0 and come back,” Williamson said. “Tulane was bowling well and we had to take the momentum away from them.”
In the 4-3 setback to Sam Houston, after the first two or three games the right lane was approximately 30 pins better than the left. After SHS earned a 2-1 lead, the teams essentially traded wins with similar scores but with the match tied 3-3, Sam Houston had lane choice based on a higher seed.
Vanderbilt bowled the same five — Tori Ferris, Giselle Poss, Olivia Wirtz, Kristin Quah and Robyn Renslow – the entire day but changed Poss and Wirtz in the order once.
“I thought both Olivia and Tori bowled well today although everyone had their good moments,” Williamson said.
Renslow ended the individual standings in 12th place with a 207 average to lead Vandy. North Carolina A&T, which won the tournament, also had the top individual in Emily Stombeck, who averaged 225.
Vandy is off until Feb. 26 when it travels to New Brunswick, N.J. for Monmouth’s tournament.
