NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After a successful January and a two-week break, Vanderbilt returns to the competitive lanes Friday back in Dallas at the Lady Techsters Classic held at the USA Bowl.
It is a familiar site for the Commodores as USA Bowl has hosted the Southland Bowling League championships and many major junior tournaments in the past.
FORMAT/TIMES
It’s the standard college format with five, 5-Game Baker sets starting at 10:25 a.m. Friday, five traditional games beginning at 10:25 a.m. Saturday and a Sunday championship bracket of three best-of-seven Baker clashes to determine the final team standings that begins at 8:25 a.m.
COMPETING TEAMS
Arkansas State, Central Missouri, Grambling, Louisiana Tech, Long Island University, Lincoln Memorial, Prairie View A&M, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Texas Southern, Tulane and Vanderbilt.
MISSING DALESANDRO
The Commodores sustained the first major injury in their 18-year program history last week when senior Angelique Dalesandro broke several bones in her foot in a training accident in the strength and conditioning center. The Illinois veteran, who was a 2020 honorable mention All-American, had surgery Friday and is expected to be out four-to-six weeks.
Dalesandro is one of the nation’s best coming off the bench. She contributed an impressive 241 in the Prairie View Invitational two weeks ago.
CUMMINS, PETERS GET SOUTHLAND HONORS
Mabel Cummins and Paige Peters were honored last week by the Southland Bowling League. Cummins, who made three all-tournament teams in January, was voted the league’s Bowler of the Month while Peters, who shined in the anchor position, was voted the league’s Newcomer of the Month.
LIVESTREAM
Bowl.com, whose home base is Dallas, will be livestreaming and Vanderbilt bowling will also use the athletic department’s YouTube channel when not being covered.
LAST TIME OUT
The Commodores dropped a 4-3 Baker decision to Sam Houston State in the championship match of the Prairie View Invitational two weeks ago. The Commodores, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, bowled well all weekend, defeating McKendree in the semifinals and winning 8 of 11 head-to-head matches throughout the qualifying in a field that contained the top eight ranked teams in the country.
DORES MOVE UP IN POLL
Vanderbilt moved up a notch into fourth place in the January NTCA poll, trailing McKendree, Sam Houston State and Nebraska.
The Commodores enjoyed a strong January of results, finishing fourth at the Stormin’ Blue and White Vegas Classic, winning the 18-team Northeast Classic and dropping a 4-3 Baker decision to Sam Houston in the title match of the Prairie View Invitational which had the top eight ranked teams in the nation competing.
Louisiana Tech is ranked fifth, followed by North Carolina A&T, Arkansas State, Stephen F. Austin, Youngstown State and Mount St. Mary’s.
