April 13, 2016
NEW BRUNSWICK–A trio of Vanderbilt Commodores were honored at the NCAA Awards Banquet on the eve of the NCAA Bowling Championship.
Robyn Renslow repeated on the All-American first team, Kristin Quah was named the national “Rookie of the Year” as well as being a second-team All-American and Giselle Poss was named honorable mention All-America. The selections are made by a vote of NCAA head coaches.
Renslow, a senior from Brentwood, Calif., became the program’s multiple-year first-teamer after a superb season in which she was fourth nationally in pin frame average at 206.2.
The veteran Vandy anchor won the Prairie View Invitational and had four Top 10 and eight Top 20 finishes during the year. Sixty-three percent of her 58 team games were over 200, second best in the nation. Her season high game was 279 but despite those numbers, Robynn admitted some surprise in being a first-team pick.
“I didn’t think repeating would happen this year because in my eyes I didn’t think my season was quite as good as last season or what I wanted it to be,” Renslow said. “I was happy to be named because it was something I have dreamed about.”
Prior Vandy multiple year first-team selections are Michelle Peloquin (two), Josie Earnest (three) and Brittni Hamilton (three).
Quah, a freshman from Singapore, was among the national leaders in pin average at 203, made a quick adjustment to collegiate bowling and college life. Kristin averaged 203 over 58 games with a high of 279. She had two Top 5 and six Top 20 finishes.
Not related to her award, Quah also registered a rare Vanderbilt 4.0 grade point during her first semester. She is a member of the Singapore National Team.
Quah admitted after the awards were distributed that she wasn’t even aware there was a Rookie of the Year Award.
“It definitely comes at a shock,” she said. “I don’t really know what it going on here. It is my first experience with college bowling. I had never even played Baker games before this year so it was a huge change.”
Kristin said she is self-driven to succeed.
“When I decide to do something I want to be the best at it. If it has my name attached to it I want to be sure there is quality to it, that’s what I want to project.”
Previous Vanderbilt Rookies of the Year were Michelle Peloquin, Brittni Hamilton, Jessica Earnest and Renslow.
Poss, a junior from Montgomery, Ill., has been a three-year regular for the Commodores as well as being a member of the Puerto Rican national team.
Giselle averaged 201.5 in 58 games with a best of 280. She had two Top 5 and five Top 20 tournament finishes.
“It was pretty cool that we had four major awards,” Poss said, “which was the most of any team tonight. For me this is more of a team-thing, this was a huge accomplishment for our program. I am proud to have made honorable mention although I’m an adamant goal-setter and didn’t have the season I wanted. Great things are in store for us and I couldn’t be prouder of us as a team.”
Stephen F. Austin’s Stephanie Schwartz was voted the Most Valuable Player. A complete list of honorees is attached.
