Feb. 2, 2008
JONESBORO, Ark. — There were few highlights Saturday for Vanderbilt’s bowling team at the Mid-Winter Invitational. In their place were some of the lowest pin totals since the team’s first year using non-scholarship bowlers.
The Commodores found themselves in a free fall and when the day finally ended, they had gone 2-2 and were in ninth place – 723 pins behind first place Maryland Eastern-Shore.
One of its few bright spots was a victory over Nebraska to close out the long day. Maryland-Eastern Shore’s tournament leading average is 997 while the Commodores are far back with a 925 average.
“We have virtually no chance to win this tournament now,” said Coach John Williamson, “so tomorrow we bowl for pride and to try to get our bearings back. Today the lanes played much different than they did yesterday and instead of adjusting we fought them all day. We absolutely could not get anything going. We struggled with our spare conversion, our intensity, just about everything.”
The Commodores also beat St. Francis and were to play Morgan State, but one of MSU’s bowlers was unable to compete and the game became a bye. They were upset in the first game by Jackson State and lost to Maryland-Eastern Shore for the first time in program history.
Individually, Tara Kane ended up in sixth place.
“She kept us afloat,” Williamson noted.
Sunday’s Baker games give the Commodores some strong competition: Sacred Heart (second in tourney standings), Fairleigh Dickinson, Minnesota-Mankato, Delaware State and Bethune-Cookman.
Saturday’s Results:
Jackson State 923 Vanderbilt 825
Ellen Morrison 156
Tara Kane 188
Karen Grygiel 141
Michelle Peloquin 158
Josie Earnest 182
Vanderbilt 949 Morgan State (bye)
Morrison 187
Kane 229
Ashley Belden 172
Peloquin 178
Earnest 183
MES 884 Vanderbilt 865
Morrison 159
Kane 167
Peloquin 138
Belden 167
Earnest 234
Vanderbilt 869 St. Francis 835
Morrison 159
Kane 239
Belden 135
Kane 166
Earnest 170
Vanderbilt 985 Nebraska 900
Morrison 176
Kane 178
Peloquin 183
Kane 205
Earnest 243
