Vanderbilt continues its 2018-19 season Friday through Sunday in Orlando, Fla., at the Sunshine State Classic, co-hosted by Sacred Heart and Stephen F. Austin. The Boardwalk Bowl in Orlando is the host facility.
Competing teams and national rankings
Bethune Cookman, Delaware State (12), Florida A & M, Lincoln Memorial (15), Maryville (18), Monmouth (22), Nebraska (3), Prairie View, Sacred Heart (20), Stephen F. Austin (7), Tulane (9), UAB (14), Vanderbilt (2), Youngstown State (25).
New national rankings were released this week (see complete rankings below).
About the tournament
The Sunshine State Classic is a new event. A traditional spot in the national schedule opened up and the coaches from Sacred Heart and Stephen F.Austin decided to host a tournament in the Florida sunshine. They attracted a nice-sized crowd comprised of a mixture of eastern and central region programs.
Timeline and formats
Friday: 8:35 a.m. CT five, 5-Game Baker matches.
Saturday: 7:25 a.m. five traditional games
Sunday: 7:25 a.m. one remaining traditional game
8:50 a.m. Two rounds of best four of seven Baker games
(all times listed are Central; Orlando is in the Eastern time zone)
Daily warm-ups are 30 minutes prior these times.
Following the tournament
Vanderbilt live streams over its YouTube page (and on occasion, Facebook Live). Results are posted on VandyBowling Facebook and Twitter accounts and a daily recap will appear on this web site.
Last time out
The Commodores were second to Arkansas State at the Prairie View Invitational, losing in the championship match after leading the three-day event wire-to-wire. Maria Bulanova won MVP honors with her 227 average and Adel Wahner was fifth individually to also capture all-tournament honors.
Travel squad
The Commodores will travel seven: Maria Bulanova, Angelique Dalesandro, Samantha Gainor, Bryanna Leyen, Jordan Newham, Emily Rigney, Adel Wahner.
New NTCA February Poll
Vanderbilt captured nine first place votes from the 39 head coaches casting ballots and moved from third to second in the standings. The Commodores began the year in No. 1, went to 3 in the second poll and now are trending upward on the strength of consecutive quality finishes. Last weekend’s Prairie View tournament was not taken into consideration as only January events were included.
- McKendree (29 first place votes) 1,451 (total poll points)
- Vanderbilt (9) 1,377
- Nebraska 1,269
- Arkansas State (1) 1,265
- Sam Houston State 1,055
- Maryland-Eastern Shore 1,047
- Stephen F. Austin 967
- Fairleigh Dickinson 956
- Tulane 861
- North Carolina A & T 711
- St. Francis University (Pa.) 621
- Delaware State 562
- Wisconsin-Whitewater 556
- UAB 477
- Lincoln Memorial 428
- Central Missouri 332
- LIU-Brooklyn 283
- Maryville 261
- Mount Saint Mary’s 253
- Sacred Heart 235
- Louisiana Tech 224
- Monmouth 212
- Duquesne 163
- Adelphi 146
- Youngstown State 107
Mickey Mouse on Agenda
The Commodores will practice midday Thursday at the Boardwalk Bowl and plan to enjoy Disney World later in the afternoon.
