March 24, 2010
NASHVILLE – For the fifth consecutive year, Vanderbilt’s bowling team is one of eight programs that will vie for the NCAA Bowling Championship in two weeks.
The NCAA announced its “Great Eight” field today via an on-line program that featured the second-rated Commodore team patched in live through video conferencing.
The other teams include host New Jersey City, Fairleigh Dickinson, Nebraska, Arkansas State, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Central Missouri and Delaware State. Nebraska, FDU, Maryland-Eastern Shore and Vanderbilt have all won past national championships. The teams are chosen by an NCAA panel and based upon an in-depth set of criteria that includes strength of schedule, head-to-head meetings and won-loss marks.
“Every year it is special to make the championship field,” says Vanderbilt Coach John Williamson. “It is an accomplishment and reward for the hard work the team has invested during the year. And every year it gets a little tougher to make the field as more and more quality teams are developing.”
For Vanderbilt captain Josie Earnest, the announcement took on a different tone than in past years.
“This year hearing our name called feels different in that for us seniors, this is our last shot at another national championship,” the two-time NCAA Player of the Year said. “Like I’ve said before, when you realize you have a finite number of games left in your college career there is an appreciation and a sense of urgency that comes over you.”
Despite that, Earnest says her advice to the Commodore newcomers to the NCAA Tournament is that despite the prize, it is still a bowling tournament and the same things that must happen to win during the year are in play here.
The NCAA Championship will be held April 8-10 at the Brunswick Zone Carolier Lanes in New Brunswick, N.J. with the title game telecast live by ESPNU at 7:30 (CDT) on April 10 with a re-air April 11 on ESPN at 2:00 (CDT)
The announcement program is archived on ncaa.com – click here to watch.
