Kats Look To Make Statement at Vanderbilt
3/13/2013 11:07:00 AM | Women's Bowling
The Sam Houston bowlers will be participating in the Columbia 300 Music City Classic hosted Friday March 15 through Sunday March 17 by Vanderbilt University. The event will be played at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
The 29-team entry list reads like a "who's who" of intercollegiate bowling this weekend. No. 11 Kutztown and No. 14 Norfolk State are the only top 20 teams not entered in the event.
"We feel like we're where we need to be right now in regards to NCAA selection, but this tournament is a great opportunity for us to solidify our position," SHSU head coach Brad Hagen said. "Our young women have done a great job this year of staying focused on our goals. We need to maintain that focus this weekend."
Kimi Davidson, Michelle Secours and Neishka Cardona lead the squad in NCAA individual pin averages in traditional team action with totals of 205.8, 195.5 and 174.9 respectively. Other team averages include Anna Groce 187.2, Eric Brown 175.4 and Becca Pittser 176.4
Top 21 teams (and the Bearkats record versus those squads) in the event are No. 1 Central Missouri (1-4), No. 2 Maryland-Eastern Shore (0-1), No. 3 Nebraska (1-2), No. 4 Arkansas State (5-3), No. 5 Vanderbilt (2-4), No. 6 Wisconsin-Whitewater (3-1), No. 7 Fairleigh-Dickinson (1-0), No. 9 Adelphi (1-1) and No. 10 Stephen F. Austin (1-4).
Sam Houston, currently ranked No. 8, owns an 86-32 record in dual match play this year including a 29-23 mark against the current top 20.
Teams ranked 11-20 in the event are No. 12 Saint Francis Pa., No. 13 Sacred Heart (1-0), No. 15 Valparaiso (7-2), No. 16 Long Island (1-0), No. 17 New Jersey City, No. 18 Saint Francis NY, No. 19 Bethune-Cookman (2-1) and No. 20 Delaware St. (1-0).
Unranked teams in the field include Alabama A&M, Alabama-Birmingham, Alabama State, Florida A&M, Hampton, Louisiana Tech, Monmouth, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View A&M, Brooklyn College (NY), Texas Southern, Tulane, Valparaiso and Southern.
The tournament will follow the normal format with six four-game baker matches Friday, six traditional team matches Saturday and three best-of-seven bakers in bracket play on Sunday.
No. 3 Nebraska is the defending tournament champion.
