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Bowlers Finish Run at Invitational 1/23/2005
Bowlers Finish Run at Invitational The Vanderbilt women’s bowling team completed a highly successful weekend at the Greater Ozark Women’s College Invitational on Sunday. For the third consecutive day of competition, Coach John Williamson’s squad posted a win. The Commodores notched their third win of the weekend and third win in school history against Arkansas Pine-Bluff. The victory was the second in two days over the Golden Lions. “We were able to get into our rhythm and I thought we competed very well,” said Williamson. The Dores competed in a total of five games on Sunday, two of them being head to head matchups and three of them coming in the form of Baker games. In head-to-head bowling, the Commodores would fall to Southern University as well as Arkansas State. In Baker game action, where five bowlers from each team combine to hurl a single game, the Dores would post a 1-2 record. Baker games are a best-of-seven series with each opponent. The Dores took their last Baker game of the evening over the Golden Lions, throwing a 199 and taking the series 4-2. The Commodores would also steal a game from reigning national champion Nebraska. Collectively, the Dores would bowl a 188 to topple the Cornhuskers. Vanderbilt would lose the series, 4-1. “I was proud today because we were able to compete like we always do in practice,” said Williamson. “This whole weekend was a huge step for us. I think most of the girls found their comfort zone and we can take great things from this tournament.” The Commodores collected their first, second, and third wins in school history at the Invitational, including a win Friday against No. 6 ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Bowling team returns the lanes on Feb. 4 at the Magnolia Extreme Bowling Classic in Natchez, Mississippi. Bowling Wins Consecutive Matches The Vanderbilt bowling team collected its second consecutive victory on Saturday, defeating Arkansas Pine-Bluff, 733-707 in its first match of the day. On the previous day of action, the Dores took down the Warhawks of Wisconsin-Whitewater to get the young program’s first win. Senior Therese Griner would once again raise her game to help lift the Dores over the Golden Lions, claiming their second win in as many days. Griner would average 155 in the five Commodore matches, with her high game coming in the squad’s victory over Arkansas Pine-Bluff. “Therese was our most consistent bowler today,” said Vanderbilt Head Coach John Williamson. “As a team, we are gaining more and more experience in competition. We are learning to control our nerves and we are gaining more confidence with each tournament match.” After garnering consecutive wins, the Commodores would fall in the next four matches to a list of imposing opponents, including a matchup with reigning national champion Nebraska. The Cornhuskers would down the Dores by a pinfall of 941-617. Collectively, the high game for the Commodores came against host Central Missouri State. Vanderbilt would tally a total of 714 in a losing effort. The Dores would also fall to Wisconsin-Whitewater and Minnesota-Mankato. “We should have a chance to have more success tomorrow,” said Williamson. “We are realizing what it takes to win and we are working on getting to that point.” The Dores will bowl a total of five games tomorrow. Coach Williamson’s squad is set to hit the lanes at 8:30 a.m. Bowlers Nab First Win Head Coach John Williamson’s bowling team laid claim to its first win in the young program’s history Friday night in the first day of competition at the Greater Ozark Women’s College Invitational. The Vanderbilt hurlers would get off to a sluggish start, dropping their first four matches on the day. The Dores would fall to national runner-up Central Missouri State, as well as Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Arkansas State, and Minnesota-Mankato. The Dores’ final opportunity of the day to get over the hump came against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. As a team, the Commodores would throw a season-high team score of 798 to take down the Warhawks by more than 40 pins. “It was a good day,” said Williamson. “We started slow, but it was great to end on a high note.” Three Commodores bowled games over 170 to collectively take the win against Whitewater. A pair of sophomores in Jessica Tower (172) and Christine Luce (175) bowled high games for the Dores, with St. Louis native Therese Griner hurling a team-high, 182. “The girls were really fired up,” said Williamson. “Tower, Luce, and Griner were outstanding for us the whole day. I was pleased that the team could put it all together and get the win.” The Commodores return to action tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. in the second day of matches at the Invitational. Stay tunes to http://www.vucommodores.com for more information. |
