Final Regular Season Tournament for Kats
3/6/2014 11:04:00 AM | Women's Bowling
The No. 7 ranked Bearkat women's bowling team has one more opportunity to chalk up some big wins as Sam Houston heads to their final regular season tournament this weekend.
Sixteen of the top 20 teams in the NCAA Division I rankings will take part in the Columbia 300 Music City Classic hosted by Vanderbilt Friday through Sunday at the Smyrna Bowling Center in Smyrna, Tenn.
The Bearkats are looking to earn their third NCAA Elite Eight invitation in the four year history of the program.
Thirty teams will compete in the event. Ranked teams include No. 1 Arkansas State, No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Fairleigh Dickinson, No. 4 Maryland-Eastern Shore, No. 5 Central Missouri, No. 6 Stephen F. Austin, No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 9 Wisconsin-Whitewater, No. 10 Saint Francis (Pa.), No. 13 Saint Francis (NY), No. 14 Valparaiso, No. 15 McKendree, No. 16 LIU-Brooklyn, No. 19 Alabama State and No. 20 Delaware State.
Unranked teams in the tournament include Adelphi, Alabama A&M, Alabama-Birmingham, Bethune-Cookman, Howard, Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Monmouth, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View A&M, Sacred Heart, Texas Southern, Tulane and Kutztown.
Sam Houston brings a 79-38 dual match won-loss record into the tournament, the most victories by any squad in the top 20. Forty of those wins are over nationally ranked foes.
“This is final opportunity for us to build our resume for the NCAAs,” head coach Brad Hagen said. “We've had some highs and lows this year, but are on track to finish strong if we maintain our focus.”
Sam Houston has participated in nine tournaments so far this season, winning the Hornet Invitational in Montgomery, finishing as runners-up at Tulane and Arkansas State, fifth at Nebraska, sixth at the Track Kat Klash and UCM Invitational and seventh at both Valparaiso and New Jersey.
Action begins Friday with quad baker competition followed Saturday by tradition team matches and Sunday with best-of-seven baker bracket play.
