MILLSBORO, DEL—Top ranked Vanderbilt got into the fall holiday spirit early by feasting on tasty scores Friday and as a result has a commanding lead at the Hawk Classic.
The Commodores gobbled up the Millsboro Lanes with a 210.3 average over five, 5-game Baker matches and lead second place Tulane by 246 pins heading into Saturday’s play. In the process Vandy went 4-1 on a day in which none of the 17 teams went unbeaten.
Three of Vanderbilt’s four victims were rated. The day began by cooking up a win over #23 Monmouth chased down by a victory over unranked Coppin State. Vandy’s lone setback followed against 11th ranked and under-valued North Carolina A&T where a disastrous second game created a hole too big to escape. Romps over #14 Lincoln Memorial and eight-ranked Delaware State left the Commodores with a good taste in their mouths.
Vanderbilt’s coaches were pleased but perhaps in a different way than one may expect.
“We really didn’t start our day bowling well,” said Associate Head Coach Josie Barnes. “Our shot execution needed to be better. Then the lanes didn’t transition as we anticipated and what we liked was how our girls did an excellent job going with what was there. And to be honest, the lane pattern wasn’t to the liking of some of our girls and we were pleased with how they performed when they were a bit uncomfortable.”
Vandy’s opening appetizer rotation featured Bryanna Leyen, Emily Rigney, Samantha Gainor, Kristin Quah and Maria Bulanova. The coaches demonstrated they are thankful for their excellent depth by inserting Adel Wahner, Brogan Zengel and Jordan Newham into the top of the order against Coppin State.
The lineup varied from there on out before settling on a salty order of Leyen, Gainor, Newham, Quah and Bulanova to polish off the day. Just when other guests were no doubt hoping Vanderbilt’s plate was overflowing after it baked up 1,068 pins in its fourth game, it piggishly asked for seconds and crushed Delaware State with 1,140 more pins – the fifth best Baker set in program history. Those 1,140 pins were the tournament’s best effort, bolstered by three of the five Bakers over 240.
Barnes was pleased “everyone got to touch the ball today and had their moments” but from the looks of things, Newham apparently scored the coveted wishbone. The Illinois senior went from lukewarm to simmer as the long afternoon wore on, closing near the top of her game.
Things get back to business with five team games Saturday starting at 9:00 a.m. CST. The first opponent is Sacred Heart; it was the Pioneers that upended Vandy in last year’s semifinal game at this event.
The Commodores are streaming their games on Vanderbilt Bowling’s Youtube channel. Readers of this report can count their blessings that the holiday puns have been packed away till next year.
