Nov. 11, 2007
FORT ATKINSON, Wis. – Vanderbilt’s bowling team staged a furious rally during Sunday’s closing games of the Cheeseland Invitational but fell just short, finishing second in the 11-team national field.
The Commodores entered the tournament’s final two Baker games trailing Nebraska by 191 pins and roared to within 65 when the dust had settled. Vanderbilt finished second to the winning Huskers but passed Arkansas State and Fairleigh Dickinson during its surge.
“We just dug too deep of a hole for ourselves,” said Coach John Williamson. “For whatever reason we came out flat in the first game (a team game loss to Arkansas State) and I challenged them. We could either fold or decide to compete and we chose to compete. It was the first time we’ve come close to capturing the intensity that we had at the end of last year. Our rally was a very good team effort. We juggled the lineup and everyone contributed.”
Karen Grygiel, a junior from Brick, N.J., led the Commodores with a third place individual finish while sophomore Josie Earnest also had a Top 10 tournament, finishing sixth.
Vanderbilt is now 17-5 and travels to the Maryland -Eastern Shore Hawk Classic next weekend where it is defending champion.
Final Team Leaders
Nebraska 11,841
Vanderbilt 11,776
Arkansas St 11,755
Fairleigh Dickinson 11,441
Final Individual Leaders
1. Cassie Leuthold, Nebraska – 210 average (7 games)
2. Lindsay Baker, Nebraska
3. Karen Grygiel, Vanderbilt – 199
6. Josie Earnest, Vanderbilt
Sunday’s Vanderbilt Results
Arkansas State 942 Vanderbilt 854
Michelle Peloquin 177
Ellen Morrison/Amanda Halter 163
Karen Grygiel 171
Tara Kane 152
Josie Earnest 191
Bye game (946)
Grygiel 173
Ashley Belden 208
Peloquin 172
Halter 182
Earnest 211
Baker Games
Vanderbilt 801 Southern 770 (VU games of 212-181-204-204)
Vanderbilt 836 Minnesota State 690 (VU 185-195-246-210)
