NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 2-ranked Vanderbilt bowling looks to build off its third-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Championship as the Commodores open the 2026-27 season at Youngstown State’s Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic at Holiday Bowl in Struthers, Ohio.
The last time out
Vandy won the Rochester Regional, the program’s third regional championship since the inception of the format in 2021, and advanced to its 11th NCAA Final Four. At the NCAA Championship, the Commodores opened with a win over Arkansas State before falling to eventual champion Jacksonville State and to Wichita State, which took a best-of-seven Baker tiebreaker 4-2, to finish third.
About the Commodores
Vanderbilt returns 2026 NTCA All-Americans Katelyn Abigania and Dannielle Henderson. Abigania, a sophomore, was also named second-team All-Conference USA and to the CUSA and NTCA All-Rookie teams. Henderson, a senior, earned second-team All-America honors for the second straight season and was a third-team all-conference selection.
The Penguin Classic is the first collegiate tournament for freshmen Lindsay Greim and Macy Jones. Greim, from San Diego and Mt. Carmel High School, is a seven-time National Youth Open champion and the winner of the 2025 PBA Junior Championship. Jones, who hails from Vandalia, Illinois, and attended Vandalia High School, was a member of the 2025 Junior Team USA and 2024 Developmental Team USA and is a seven-time Elite Youth Tour champion.
This event will mark the debut of Josie Barnes as Vandy’s head coach. A two-time NCAA Player of the Year who earned All-America recognition each of her four years competing as a Dore, she has been on staff the previous 15 seasons including serving as associate head coach since 2019.
Competing teams
The list of teams competing at the Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic includes: No. 4 Arkansas State, No. 19 Bryant, No. 16 Duquesne, No. 1 Jacksonville State, No. 25 Maryland Eastern Shore, No. 13 Maryville, Mercyhurst, No. 18 Mount St. Mary’s, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 14 Niagara, No. 9 North Carolina A&T , No. 10 Sacred Heart, No. 21 Valparaiso, No. 2 Vanderbilt, Western Illinois, William Smith, No. 11 Wright State and No. 6 Youngstown State.
Format
Friday – five sets of five Baker matches beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT
Saturday – five traditional matches beginning at 8:25 a.m.
Sunday – three best-of-seven Baker matches beginning at 7:25 a.m.
Keeping up with the Commodores
The Dores’ matches will be streamed live on YouTube and Facebook. Fans can follow Vanderbilt bowling on X and Instagram at @VandyBowling for updates.