The Basics
The championship will take place April 11-13 at the RollHouse Wickliffe, a Cleveland suburb. The updated bracket is attached and includes play-in winners Sacred Heart, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Arkansas State and Stephen F. Austin. Thursday and Friday sessions begin at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. CT, respectively, preceded by the warmups. If there is a necessary game to establish a second finalist, it will be played Saturday at 8:00 a.m. CT.
Following the Tourney
All matches will be live-streamed at NCAA.com. The championship final will air at 5:30 p.m. CT, Saturday, April 13 on ESPNU.
Same Format as Southland tournament
Seeds have been determined by the NCAA Committee based upon the season’s performance and were announced when the field was revealed. Vanderbilt is the No. 1 seed. Teams will first play a traditional game, followed by a 5-game, total pin fall Baker series. Should one team win both contests, the match is over. Should they split, a best-of-seven Baker match will determine the winner.
Awards Dinner
The NCAA’s annual Awards Banquet is set for Wednesday evening, April 10. The highlight of the event is the announcement of the 2019 All-America teams as voted upon by the NCAA coaches, the National Tenpin Coaches Association.
?: NCAA Women’s Bowling Pre-Championship Press Conference: @VandyBowling@vucommodores | #NCAABowl ? https://t.co/Ydv12jVNp4
— Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (@CLESports) April 10, 2019
Practice Session
Teams will practice Wednesday with brief press conferences for each program either prior to or after each practice. Vandy will practice from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. local time.
All hands on deck
The Commodores have their entire 11-woman roster in Cleveland, although the NCAA rule only allows 10 bowlers to be in uniform and on the settee. Freshman redshirt Liz Ross will therefore be relegated to the sidelines.
Southland Bowling League Everywhere
Four of the eight championship teams are from the powerful Southland Bowling League. They are Vanderbilt, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Arkansas State.
Vandy’s Season Record vs. NCAA Field
The Commodores are a combined 33-19 during the season vs. the seven teams making the NCAA Championship. They hold an 8-5 edge in Baker games, 12-6 over the traditional contests and 13-8 in Bracket play. Here is how it breaks down per team:
Arkansas State 4-3
McKendree 7-3
Sacred Heart 5-2
Sam Houston 6-2
Stephen F. Austin 5-4
UMES 2-0
Nebraska 4-5
Team’s Relaxing Side Trip “Rocked”
Over the years, when time and schedules lined up, Vanderbilt head coach John Williamson has tried to take his teams to local and historical places such as Independence Square, The Texas Book Depository, Gettysburg, Hitsville USA and so forth. Since the Commodores had a bit of free time Tuesday afternoon in Cleveland, they enjoyed a stop at the famous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
