Jan. 16, 2016
JONESBORO, AR—Vanderbilt faced one of its most formidable days with five Top 10 opponents and responded with one of its best performances Saturday at the Mid-Winter Classic.
The Commodores’ 3-2 worksheet is a bit deceptive as they posted the best team game composite for the day (5,203), leaping into Sunday’s championship bracket as the three seed against host Arkansas State. Top seed Sam Houston will face McKendree on the other side with the winner getting an automatic pass into the title game..
Vandy had its two best team games of the year to date in downing Stephen F. Austin (1,123) and topping Maryland-Eastern Shore in the day’s finale (1,135). With those scores, it is apparent there were some strong individual play and the overall balance might be what pleased Coach John Williamson the most.
Freshman Kris Quah finished second individually to Sam Houston’ Janine Kuhawara by a mere three pins with a 220.8 average. Junior Giselle Poss finished with a 280 game to place fifth and redshirt junior Olivia Wirtz continues to be the surprise of the tournament, averaging 213.2 to finish seventh in the power-packed field.
Wirtz boarded the team bus Thursday, not expecting to see a lot of competition but told academic counselor Neal Clark that she was ready if she was called upon.
“I had a really good look yesterday,” the Michigan product said, “and was ready if it was my turn. I had a few typical pre-game jitters before the first game (Nebraska) but we approached things as a team, had our goals and incredible energy in the settee. It was an awesome feeling to know my teammates were there with me.”
The Nebraska opener was Wirtz’s first career start and her 247 represented the collegiate high water mark in her sparsely played career.
Vanderbilt used the same five right-handers the entire day, a rotation of Tori Ferris (who was 16th), Wirtz, Quah, Poss and Robyn Renslow, who Williamson said hit the pocket solidly all day long despite a 185 average.
The veteran Vandy coach had these comments on his three leaders:
Quah: “Kris told me that she felt she was bowling today for the first time this season instead of just throwing balls. It was good to see her repeat shots and get comfortable.”
Poss: “G has had a good look for a couple days but toward the middle of the day she quit forcing things and let them happen. It was good to see her relax.”
Wirtz: “Olivia had the ball reaction and did what she could do. She didn’t try to do more than she could do. Josie (assistant coach Earnest) and I talked during warmups and we were determined to start the five with the best look and Olivia had the look.”
Williamson was also pleased that his team responded in the day’s finale when team scoring was so tight and spots were up for grabs in the top four, necessary to have a chance to win Sunday.
Sunday’s best of seven Bakers begin at 8:30 CST, livestreamed on Cube.
