Photo by: Jason Barfield
Kats split two matches on Day 1
3/25/2022 5:11:00 PM | Women's Bowling
HARAHAN, La. – The top seeded Bearkats split a pair of matches on the opening day of the Southland Bowling League Championships and will now have to win a title the hard way.Â
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After opening the day with a 3 set win over 8-seed Valparaiso, the Kats fell to Youngstown State in the afternoon match. The Bearkats will now face Louisiana Tech in an elimination match Saturday morning.Â
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"Coming in, the goal on the first day of the tournament is two win your first two matches," said head coach Brad Hagen. "We just didn't get it done today, but we bowled really well. A few breaks didn't go our way and sometimes that is all it takes."
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The Kats bowled maybe their best of the day in the traditional team set against YSU. They posted a monster score of 1142, one of their highest of the season. Unfortunately, Youngstown was 14 pins better. Â
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Despite games of 279 by Denise Blankenzee and 268 by Elise Chambers, the Kats found themselves in a 1-0 hole in the winners bracket match. In the team baker set, the Kats leveled the match, with a 134 pin victory. However, the Penguins came out firing in the team baker's and won the best-of-7 set 4-0.
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"Anytime you put up a number like 1142 you expect to win, but it just wasn't there for us this afternoon," Hagen said. "Our team have been good all year battling back when their back have been up against the wall. I expect the same from them in the morning against a La Tech team we have seen a lot this season and know how good they are."
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In the opening match of the day against Valpo, the Kats also pushed to the brink. After winning the opening set by 33 pins, the Kats lost the team baker set. They came back to take the best-of-7 match 4-0 to advance.Â
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Chambers led the way for the Bearkats in the traditional team games, with a 261 average. Blankenzee averaged 235 in her two games.Â
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Saturday's match will get started at 8:30 in the morning and will be streamed on YouTube at http://youtube.com/InsideBowling.
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After opening the day with a 3 set win over 8-seed Valparaiso, the Kats fell to Youngstown State in the afternoon match. The Bearkats will now face Louisiana Tech in an elimination match Saturday morning.Â
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"Coming in, the goal on the first day of the tournament is two win your first two matches," said head coach Brad Hagen. "We just didn't get it done today, but we bowled really well. A few breaks didn't go our way and sometimes that is all it takes."
Â
The Kats bowled maybe their best of the day in the traditional team set against YSU. They posted a monster score of 1142, one of their highest of the season. Unfortunately, Youngstown was 14 pins better. Â
Â
Despite games of 279 by Denise Blankenzee and 268 by Elise Chambers, the Kats found themselves in a 1-0 hole in the winners bracket match. In the team baker set, the Kats leveled the match, with a 134 pin victory. However, the Penguins came out firing in the team baker's and won the best-of-7 set 4-0.
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"Anytime you put up a number like 1142 you expect to win, but it just wasn't there for us this afternoon," Hagen said. "Our team have been good all year battling back when their back have been up against the wall. I expect the same from them in the morning against a La Tech team we have seen a lot this season and know how good they are."
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In the opening match of the day against Valpo, the Kats also pushed to the brink. After winning the opening set by 33 pins, the Kats lost the team baker set. They came back to take the best-of-7 match 4-0 to advance.Â
Â
Chambers led the way for the Bearkats in the traditional team games, with a 261 average. Blankenzee averaged 235 in her two games.Â
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Saturday's match will get started at 8:30 in the morning and will be streamed on YouTube at http://youtube.com/InsideBowling.
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Bowling
/ Women's Bowling
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