LAS VEGAS — Vanderbilt’s undefeated day was good enough to hold down second place and propel it into Tuesday’s opening round best-of-seven Baker match with top-seeded McKendree at the Stormin’ Blue and White Vegas Classic.
The winner of Tuesday’s opener advances to the title match at this 14-team event that includes three of the nation’s top four ranked teams. Nebraska and Maryland-Eastern Shore are on the other side of the championship bracket that consists of the top four teams after two days of play.
Vanderbilt spent the majority of its day seemingly more concerned with the leaderboard than its opponent of the moment as it topped its five foes by an average of more than 150 pins, making for a rare, stress-free day. The third-ranked Dores defeated Daemen — a new NCAA program — Tulane, Prairie View, Mount St. Mary’s and Newman, respectively.
The Commodores, now 36-14 on the season, were remarkably balanced the entire day with a high game of 1,127 and other totals of 1,061, 1076, 1044 and 1,010.
“We were making good first shots and when you do that, your spare conversions are usually easier,” Vandy head coach John Williamson said. “We were very consistent – just five games under 200 and only one under 190. When that happens you are going to be successful.”
Vanderbilt began with the familiar lineup of Mabel Cummins, Alyssa Ballard, Victoria Varano, Caroline Thesier and Paige Peters and it didn’t substitute all day as all five were in the 200’s nearly every traditional game.
Peters was in the hunt for individual honors a considerable portion of the day, boosted by her first two games of 232 and 257, which were Vandy’s best of the day. Thesier also had a 257 against Prairie View. Peters would end up fourth in the individual standings with a 220 average and Thesier was eighth.
Nebraska’s Crystal Elliott was first at 240 over the five games.
Tuesday’s play begins at 10 a.m. CT and is being livestreamed on bowltv.com.
