|
3/5/2006 BESSEMER, AL—Vanderbilt’s bowling team averaged over 1,000 pins per game Sunday but couldn’t hold off the charge of national champion Nebraska and finished second in the 16-team Holiday Bowl. It was the young Commodores’ best finish since starting their program one year ago. Mandy Keily had an excellent tournament and finished second individually. The Brighton, Colo., freshman averaged 234 Saturday and 227.8 Sunday — including a school record 278 in the day’s second game. She beat Tara Kane’s former mark by one pin. The left-hander seemed to find a groove over the lesser used left side of the lanes; she had recorded a 260 yesterday that included 10 strikes in a row after an open second frame. Michelle Peloquin continued her solid season with a 12th place individual finish. She averaged 210.4 Sunday, almost exactly her season average which was the second highest in the NCAA heading into the tournament. Karen Grygiel placed 20th and Kaitlin Reynolds 24th. “We did almost everything we what we wanted to do except win the title,” said Coach John Williamson. “Nebraska just bowled lights-out today and they won the tournament. We didn’t lose it. It is hard to find too much fault when you average over 1000 for the day.” Williamson said the team’s performance was encouraging when put in perspective. “There were 13 of the top 15 rated bowling teams in the country here,” he noted, “and placing second probably makes a statement as to how people should look at our program right now. But we also learned a valuable lesson. We were just 50 pins behind Nebraska going into the last head-to-head game with them so we obviously had an opportunity to win the tournament. You have to give the Huskers credit for getting the big game when they needed it.” Vanderbilt’s next action is two weeks ago with its own Columbia 300 Music City Classic. It will be held at the Pla Mor Lanes in Nashville March 18 and 19. TOP FIVE FINAL TEAM STANDINGS Sunday’s Results Vanderbilt 1064 Delaware State 947 Vanderbilt 1063 Florida A & M 764 Vanderbilt 1099 Farleigh Dickinson 1066 Vanderbilt 1037 Nebraska 1117 *indicates school record |
