HELSINGBORG, SWEDEN — Team USA, with three of its four members coming from Vanderbilt University, won its pool Monday in the team competition and is assured of a medal at the IBF U21 World Championships.
The unit of Mabel Cummins, Paige Peters, Victoria Varano and Ohio’s Jillian Martin combined to go 5-2 in match play and will compete for a gold medal when the finals are conducted Wednesday. USA will be challenged by Korea, the second-place finisher it its pool, along with the powerful Singapore team and host Sweden.
Team USA lost a high-scoring affair to Mexico to start play 284-247 before reeling off consecutive wins against England, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia and Columbia, respectively. Korea edged the USA in the seventh game, 233-224.
“It was a good day for the USA,” Vanderbilt associate head coach Josie Barnes said. “And an excellent day for our Vanderbilt women. Victoria was really good in some key moments, Mabel was the best version of herself and Paige controlled the pocket. They appeared to be meshing well.”
The four-woman format is quite different from the collegiate Baker that many are familiar with. Teams are required to rotate their lineup every game with the leadoff bowler also taking the fifth, ninth and tenth frames. The rotation gives every game a different feel.
