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Vanderbilt bowlers earn school's first championship
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The NCAA News
Vanderbilt edged Maryland-Eastern Shore to claim the National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship April 12-14 at Wekiva Lanes in Orlando.
Both the Commodores and the Hawks were seeking their school’s first NCAA team championship in a back-and-forth best-of-seven Baker format title match. Vanderbilt prevailed, 4-3.
Vanderbilt took an early lead in the match with 167-164 and 242-166 victories in the first two games before Maryland-Eastern Shore registered back-to-back wins of 202-154 and 170-148 in games three and four.
“We fell behind early, but I told the girls we didn’t come here on national television to get blown out in four games. I told them to bowl like they have all weekend,” said Sharon Brummell, head coach at Maryland-Eastern Shore. The final contest was broadcast live on ESPNU.
In the fifth game, Vanderbilt regrouped to collect a 224-180 win, but Maryland-Eastern Shore used six straight strikes to ensure a game-six victory and tie the match. The Commodores led throughout the deciding game seven behind tournament most outstanding performer Josie Earnest, who rolled two strikes in the 10th frame of the game to secure a 198-150 victory and the national championship for the Commodores.
Vanderbilt head coach John Williamson said his team decided during the final television timeout in the seventh game that they wanted to finish the year by throwing five good balls. The Commodores went on to register four strikes and a nine-pin count to complete the championship run.
“To win the first national team championship in school history is special,” said Williamson. “Our student-athletes worked so hard and our coaches worked hard. This victory on national television is validation that the effort was worthwhile.”
The Commodores’ performance also received a boost from Vanderbilt head baseball coach Tim Corbin, said sophomore Karen Grygiel.
“Coach Corbin told us that we have to be able to visualize winning, and if you do, you can win,” she said. “Winning was the only image on my mind this afternoon. I never allowed losing to come into my thoughts. I think we all felt that way.”
Maryland-Eastern Shore ended the year at 94-21 and set a school record for wins. The Hawks, seeded fifth, downed Central Missouri, No. 1 seed and defending champion Fairleigh Dickinson and two-time champion Nebraska to advance to the final match.
The third-seeded Commodores defeated Sacred Heart, Nebraska and Fairleigh Dickinson to earn an appearance in the title match. Vanderbilt finished the season with a 74-14 record.
Vanderbilt’s Kaitlin Reynolds joined Earnest on the all-tournament team, along with Marion Singleton and Jessica Worsley of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Kristi Kerr of Fairleigh Dickinson.
Championship results
Round 1
Nebraska def. New Jersey City, 4-2; Vanderbilt def. Sacred Heart, 4-2; Md.-East. Shore def. Central Mo., 4-2; Fairleigh Dickinson def. Minn. St. Mankato, 4-1.
Round 2
Vanderbilt def. Nebraska, 4-2; Md.-East. Shore def. Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-3; Sacred Heart def. New Jersey City, 4-3 (New Jersey City eliminated). Central Mo. def. Minn. St. Mankato, 4-0-1 (Minn. St. Mankato eliminated).
Round 3
Nebraska def. Central Mo., 4-3 (Central Mo. eliminated); Fairleigh Dickinson def. Sacred Heart, 4-1 (Sacred Heart eliminated).
Semifinals
Vanderbilt def. Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-1 (Fairleigh Dickinson eliminated); Md.-East. Shore def. Nebraska, 4-2 (Nebraska eliminated).
Championship
Vanderbilt def. Md.-East. Shore, 4-3.
Both the Commodores and the Hawks were seeking their school’s first NCAA team championship in a back-and-forth best-of-seven Baker format title match. Vanderbilt prevailed, 4-3.
Vanderbilt took an early lead in the match with 167-164 and 242-166 victories in the first two games before Maryland-Eastern Shore registered back-to-back wins of 202-154 and 170-148 in games three and four.
“We fell behind early, but I told the girls we didn’t come here on national television to get blown out in four games. I told them to bowl like they have all weekend,” said Sharon Brummell, head coach at Maryland-Eastern Shore. The final contest was broadcast live on ESPNU.
In the fifth game, Vanderbilt regrouped to collect a 224-180 win, but Maryland-Eastern Shore used six straight strikes to ensure a game-six victory and tie the match. The Commodores led throughout the deciding game seven behind tournament most outstanding performer Josie Earnest, who rolled two strikes in the 10th frame of the game to secure a 198-150 victory and the national championship for the Commodores.
Vanderbilt head coach John Williamson said his team decided during the final television timeout in the seventh game that they wanted to finish the year by throwing five good balls. The Commodores went on to register four strikes and a nine-pin count to complete the championship run.
“To win the first national team championship in school history is special,” said Williamson. “Our student-athletes worked so hard and our coaches worked hard. This victory on national television is validation that the effort was worthwhile.”
The Commodores’ performance also received a boost from Vanderbilt head baseball coach Tim Corbin, said sophomore Karen Grygiel.
“Coach Corbin told us that we have to be able to visualize winning, and if you do, you can win,” she said. “Winning was the only image on my mind this afternoon. I never allowed losing to come into my thoughts. I think we all felt that way.”
Maryland-Eastern Shore ended the year at 94-21 and set a school record for wins. The Hawks, seeded fifth, downed Central Missouri, No. 1 seed and defending champion Fairleigh Dickinson and two-time champion Nebraska to advance to the final match.
The third-seeded Commodores defeated Sacred Heart, Nebraska and Fairleigh Dickinson to earn an appearance in the title match. Vanderbilt finished the season with a 74-14 record.
Vanderbilt’s Kaitlin Reynolds joined Earnest on the all-tournament team, along with Marion Singleton and Jessica Worsley of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Kristi Kerr of Fairleigh Dickinson.
Championship results
Round 1
Nebraska def. New Jersey City, 4-2; Vanderbilt def. Sacred Heart, 4-2; Md.-East. Shore def. Central Mo., 4-2; Fairleigh Dickinson def. Minn. St. Mankato, 4-1.
Round 2
Vanderbilt def. Nebraska, 4-2; Md.-East. Shore def. Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-3; Sacred Heart def. New Jersey City, 4-3 (New Jersey City eliminated). Central Mo. def. Minn. St. Mankato, 4-0-1 (Minn. St. Mankato eliminated).
Round 3
Nebraska def. Central Mo., 4-3 (Central Mo. eliminated); Fairleigh Dickinson def. Sacred Heart, 4-1 (Sacred Heart eliminated).
Semifinals
Vanderbilt def. Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-1 (Fairleigh Dickinson eliminated); Md.-East. Shore def. Nebraska, 4-2 (Nebraska eliminated).
Championship
Vanderbilt def. Md.-East. Shore, 4-3.
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