Nov. 9, 2014
VALPARAISO, IN—Vanderbilt’s unpredictable Commodores went from its most consistent day Saturday to a struggle Sunday as they finished fifth at Valparaiso’s Crusader Classic.
Vandy began the day a few pins out of second place but its 923-852 team game win over Tulane to open the day wasn’t enough to move up in the pin count standings. It could have been a harbinger of things to come when veteran aces Robyn Renslow and Nicole Mosesso, who had entered the day in second and eighth place individually, turned in modest scores of 177 and 148 in that win.
The Commodores would face No. 4 seed Arkansas State in the title bracket and Coach John Williamson termed it a “no show” as they bowed, 4-0, a setback that included two games in which the winning Red Wolves didn’t need to manage more than 178 pins themselves.
Seeking a spark, Williamson inserted the four bowlers that hadn’t competed in the first contest against a McKendree team that Vandy had defeated two days earlier. That turned out to be another up and down ride – jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the best of seven, going down 3-2 before losing 4-3.
The loss sank VU into the 5th place game, where happily the day ended with a strong scoring victory over Alma, 4-2. Four of the last five Baker games were 234-234-236 and 225.
The team ended the long weekend with an 11-5 won-loss record. Renslow finished in sixth place individually and Mosesso was 10th.
“I was glad we ended on a positive note,” said Coach John Williamson said. “It was disappointing to us that we would come out so flat to start the day. One of the bright spots once again was the play of Katie Stark. We put her at anchor in that McKendree game and she threw a whole lot of very good shots.”
Nebraska defeated Arkansas State, 4-1, to take the team championship. The final standing speak to the expanding depth in NCAA bowling as defending national champion Sam Houston State beat traditional power Central Missouri in the seventh-eighth place contest.
The Commodores’ very busy November continues next weekend at the Hawk Classic, hosted by Maryland-Eastern Shore. That event ends the fall schedule.
