Jan. 19, 2018
READING, PA—There were monsters in the New Hiester Lanes Friday! Vanderbilt’s bowlers found them early and often during the first day of the Kutztown Invitational.
The first “monster” was a 279 Baker game after the Commodores had rattled off 10 straight strikes against an outmatched Chestnut Hill team. Less than an hour later they found another monster in the form of a second 279, this time against Morgan State. And to cap off the big game hunt, Vanderbilt bagged the fifth 300 game in program history against St. Francis (Pa.) midway through the long day of competition.
The monster games propelled Vanderbilt into second place in this 28-team tournament that features many northeastern teams and a handful of fellow central region squads. No. 2 rated McKendree leads the Commodores by 36 pins heading into Saturday (5,394-5,358).
Almost lost in the buzz about high scores was an 1,153 5-game Baker score against Morgan State, now the fourth best total in VU’s record book. (1,232 is school’s best 5-game Baker set in 2011.) The Commodores posted a bevy of games north of 200 in addition to the trio of whoppers. Those 279’s rank among the Top 15 games in school history as the Black and Gold looked the part of the defending champions much of the day.
Coach John Williamson liked the early portion of the day but saw room for improvement as the afternoon wore on.
“We began pretty good and got a little sloppy the last two rounds,” he noted. “The lanes transitioned and we weren’t executing well enough to handle it.”
It is always a thrill to watch a 300 game unfold. The lineup was Bryanna Leyen, Kelsey Abrahamsen, Jordan Newham, Kristin Quah and Maria Bulanova – a freshman, two sophomores and two juniors. Onlookers could sense the possibility as each `Dore converted pocket strikes and momentum built.
“We had flirted with 300 twice already in the first and second rounds so I wasn’t surprised we were knocking on the door again,” Williamson said.
And as usual, the outcome rested on the dependable shoulders of All-American anchor Maria Bulanova.
“I won’t say I wasn’t nervous because I was,” Maria said. “I was actually very excited because I had a very good look and knew it was possible. It is a different kind of nervousness and every bowler would understand the feeling. Everything ahead of you is perfect and you want to keep it that way. I was a little nervous and on the second strike I actually brushed my ankle a bit. But as I threw the last ball I knew it was perfect and I said `that’s a 300!'”
Bulanova said a new ball helped spark her day.
“Coach (Williamson) drilled a new ball for me the day before we left,” Bulanova said. “I didn’t even have a chance to throw it at the Rec but it was a perfect match for this day.”
On the day, Vanderbilt defeated Chestnut Hill, Morgan State, St. Francis (Pa.), Adelphi and Howard. Saturday’s play includes five traditional team games, scheduled to begin at 9:30 EST. Livestreaming is available on Vanderbilt’s YouTube channel.
