April 9, 2015
ST. LOUIS—Vanderbilt started slowly but a shake-up in the order helped the Commodores get their groove back. The resulting spark allowed Vandy to win two straight after dropping three in a row on the first day of seeding at the NCAA Bowling Championship.
Two more team games are in store Friday – Vanderbilt faces Nebraska and Wisconsin-Whitewater in the morning – before the championship bracket is set and the double-elimination baker play begins in the afternoon. While standings at this point have little meaning, the Commodores ended the day in fifth place.
“I thought we had moments all day,” Coach John Williamson said. “If we executed a bit better in those first three days we may have come away with wins and then we’d have thought it was a big day. You always feel better after a win but we told the group that the goal was to leave feeling good about ourselves and we did. We are in a good position in terms of lane play and ball reaction to be successful.”
As was the case in the recent Southland Bowling League tournament, Williamson was looking to change the energy when he put Rebeca Reguero into the first spot, moved lead-off bowler Katie Stark to fourth, reinserted Nicole Powell in the two hole, brought Tori Ferris off the bench in the third spot and left Robyn Renslow at anchor.
“I feel like the nine people dressed are all quality players that we can move around,” he said. “I thought we were bowling okay but I didn’t think the vibe in the settee was as good as we want and I thought the change-up helped create some energy.”
Renslow, who was named a first-team All-American Wednesday, had a dominating day and leads the entire star-studded field after games of 246-243-191-255-213.
“For most of the day I was able to play the same line,” Renslow said. “I only moved a couple of boards. It was really easy to keep doing the same motion over and over again and it was a confidence booster to be able to string strikes. When I missed a couple of spares in the third game my teammates picked me up.”
“Robyn had really good look and had a lot of confidence, Williamson said. “She took advantage of that confidence and didn’t throw too many poor shots and while she left a few pins out there today she will make us very formidable in the Bakers.”
Renslow said she liked the way things felt after the lineup switch.
“I love following Katie,” she said. “She has a great spark and is very good setting me up as she always throws a good shot.”
Both Renslow and Nicole Powell cited a team discussion after the day’s third game — the team’s poorest effort.
“We talked about possible changes and coach said we needed people who wanted to have the ball in their hands,” Powell said. “After the second game I knew I wanted the ball in my hands. It felt good but I realize there is still plenty to clean up.”
Powell, the sophomore lefty that joined the lineup midway in the season, admitted her first crack at the NCAA tournament produced some jitters.
“Absolutely there are nerves at first and it’s important to figure out how to handle them,” she said. “I was anxious and excited at the same time, some mental toughness involved.”
Friday’s game with Nebraska begins at 10:50 CDT. All games are streamed live on NCAA.com
Game Capsules
FDU 1,020 VU 990
Lineup: Stark, Powell, Reguero, Poss, Renslow
The Knights jumped off to a modest lead with 10 strikes in a row after an opening spare and Vandy could never quite close the gap. The Commodores trailed by 30-35 pins through much of the game although they made a push in the ninth frame with four strikes and a spare against two FDU opens. FDU had more open frames but also more strikes.
Stark 213
Powell 182
Reguero 190
Poss 159
Renslow 246
Arkansas State 1,028 VU 996
Lineup: Stark, Powell, Reguero, Poss, Renslow
A tenth frame rally pushed the Red Wolves to a win over the Commodores. It was close heading into the last frame but while three of the five ASU bowlers went off the sheet, Vandy struggled on the left lane with three opens. The ‘Dores had five strikes on the right lane in the ninth. Renslow, starting with the front five, had a workmanlike 243 with a tenth frame open. She is leading all individuals after two games.
Stark 170
Powell 185
Reguero 187
Poss 211
Renslow 243
Stephen F. Austin 924 VU 900
Lineup: Stark, Mosesso, Goodman, Poss, Renslow
Vandy’s disastrous final two frames took a close game filled with open frames by both teams and almost handed the LadyJacks the win. By the middle of this game it seemed apparent that the team that would make the fewest errors would win and that proved the case. Perhaps it was a case of the lanes transitioning.
Stark 199
Mosesso 185
Goodman 169
Poss 156
Renslow 191
VU 1,058 Sam Houston St. 946
Lineup: Reguero, Powell, Ferris, Stark, Renslow
For the second straight tournament, Vandy made a big switch in its rotation and got results. Ferris was added in the three hole and Stark went from lead to fourth and started with the front four, igniting Renslow who rattled off five strikes in her first six frames. Powell was adding a a four-bagger of her own to begin the game and for the first time today the Commodores were rolling. Stark and Renslow were a force at the back of the order.
Reguero 170
Powell 215
Ferris 186
Stark 242
Renslow 255
VU 1,046 Central Missouri 1,022
Lineup: Fry, Powell, Ferris, Stark, Renslow
The ‘Dores started in a hole and trailed halfway through but they seized command in the later half and had a comfortable lead by the ninth frame. This lineup produced steady scores with Fry leading the way at 228.
Fry 228
Powell 202
Ferris 197
Stark 205
Renslow 213
