Jan. 20, 2008
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After a day and a half of competition to sort the field at the Great Ozark Bowling Invitational, Vanderbilt had worked its way into the top seed of the four-team bracket that would determine the tournament champion.
It wasn’t to be.
The Commodores would face fourth seed Arkansas State, whom it had beaten multiple times this year and several times during this long weekend. However, in this best-of-seven Baker series, often a strong suit of the Black and Gold, ASU would rally to win in six games, relegating VU to the consolation game.
Nebraska, the number two seed, would then top ASU to win the title while Central Missouri edged Vandy in seven games for third place.
“First off I want to congratulate Arkansas State and Central Missouri for making the shots when they had to,” said Commodore Coach John Williamson. “As for our team, we are very disappointed. We missed far too many convertible spares all weekend and when we needed leadership or mental toughness we seemed to shrink. We will reevaluate everything during the next two weeks and when we head to our next event we’ll expect to have a more competitive edge.”
A capsule of how things went during the championship bracket competition came in Game 6 of the Arkansas State match. The Commodores appeared to be in the driver’s seat, only to miss two makeable spares while the Lady Indians struck out in the tenth to win by five pins.
Michelle Peloquin was the bright spot for the Commodores, finishing second individually with a 201.5 average and making the all-tournament team. Josie Earnest was 10th at 192.4 and Ashley Belden was one game short of qualifying…her 199.8 average would have placed her fourth.
Competing NCAA teams in this tournament were Arkansas State, Central Missouri, Elmhurst College, Fontbonne, Minnesota State-Mankato, Nebraska and Southern.
Vanderbilt’s next action is Feb. 1 at Arkansas State’s Invitational.
Vanderbilt’s Sunday Results
Vanderbilt 927 Elmhurst 884
Ashley Belden 181
Tara Kane 198
Karen Grygiel 169
Michelle Peloquin 166
Josie Earnest 213
Vanderbilt 948 Fontbonne 678
Belden 209
Kane 176
Grygiel 181
Peloquin 237
Earnest 145
Exhibition Baker game versus Pikeville
Vanderbilt won 1053 – 949
Championship Bracket (Best of Seven Bakers)
Arkansas State 4 Vanderbilt 2
VU 176-143
AS 188 – 160
AS 214 – 192
VU 194 – 174
AS 182-163
AS 192-187
CMS 4 Vanderbilt 3 (consolation game)
VU 236- 160
CM 182 – 181
CM 203 – 170
VU 174 – 163
VU 192 – 168
CM 210 – 154
CM 170 – 153
