Oct. 1, 2014
Vanderbilt’s bowling team begins practice Wednesday. Here are some off-season notes current updates.
PRE-SEASON RANKING: Vanderbilt was fourth in the National Ten Pin Coaches Association’s pre-season poll, which was released Wednesday. The top 10 according to the collegiate coaches are: Nebraska, Arkansas State, Sam Houston State, VANDERBILT, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Central Missouri, Fairleigh Dickinson, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Stephen F. Austin and St. Francis (Pa.)
ROSTER COMPOSITION: The Commodores have five seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen. The Black and Gold are the only team in the nation returning 100% of its 2014 roster.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP: There are six women returning that have significant experience in the starting lineup – second team All-American Robyn Renslow, former Junior Team USA members Amanda Fry and Natalie Goodman, and Nicole Mosesso, Rebeca Reguero and Tori Ferris.
ONE TRUE FRESHMAN: Katie Stark of Orlando, Fla., is the lone true freshman on the roster this year. The other freshman is redshirted Kendyll Dellinger.
EXHIBITION MATCH OCT. 12:The Commodores will host an exhibition game with Arkansas State Oct. 12 in the Rec Center, then open its season Oct. 17 at the Tulane Invitational.
FIRST FALL IN REC: The Commodores will start work in their sparkling complex at the on-campus Recreation Center. The facility was dedicated last January and the team spent the fall shuttling back and forth to the Smyrna Bowling Center until then. The new facility is just 100 yards from the McGugin Center, home of Vanderbilt Athletics making it very convenient for team members to get to dinner, study sessions or other appointments.
NEW PRACTICE AIDE: Vanderbilt made a significant purchase during the off-season, adding a new Kegel Flex lane conditioner that sports such new technology that there is not another similar machine like it in the entire Southeast. Among the new bells and whistles are a brush system that can actually simulate lanes that have been bowled upon for a time as opposed to “fresh oil”. The Kegel Company even customized the exterior colors to Vanderbilt’s black and gold.
GOING THE DISTANCE: Commodore coaches typically devote a good portion of their summer to attending major junior tournaments in the continental United States to both support their own current team members and to evaluate new talent. They took that dedication to new levels in August, traveling to Hong Kong for the World Youth Championship.