11/13/2026 9:01:00 PM | Women's Bowling
HOUSTON — Sam Houston opened its host tournament with a perfect 5-0 record on day one at Emerald Bowl on Friday at the 2026 TRACK Kat Klash, finishing the day in third place in the team standings.
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The Bearkats opened with a 988-867 victory over Southern before defeating Maryland Eastern Shore 981-863. Sam Houston continued its strong start with a 961-920 win over Alabama State, followed by a 945-934 victory against Louisiana Tech. The Bearkats closed the day with an 888-873 win over Grambling State to finish qualifying with 4,763 total pins.
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North Carolina A&T leads the standings with 4,892 pins, followed by Louisiana Tech with 4,882. Sam Houston sits just ahead of fourth-place Alabama State, which finished with 4,760 pins.
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Head coach Brad Hagen was pleased with the team's 5-0 start but believes the Bearkats have another level of performance to reach.
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"Early in the day, we had a great look on the fresh and did a nice job taking advantage of the opportunity in front of us," Hagen said. "As the day progressed, however, we found ourselves making things more complicated than they needed to be. That's part of the challenge of tournament bowling, but it's also where confidence and discipline have to take over."
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Hagen emphasized the importance of trusting preparation and making confident decisions as the tournament progresses, particularly when lane conditions begin to change.
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"We have to do a better job keeping things simple, trusting our reads, and committing to the shots in front of us," Hagen said. "Especially later in a block, controlling the front part of the lane has to be a priority."
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The Bearkats have an opportunity to put themselves in position to compete for a championship heading into Sunday's action. Hagen stressed that the team must continue to focus on execution and take the tournament one frame at a time.
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"We're grateful for 5-0, but we're not satisfied with simply getting by," Hagen said. "There is a difference between surviving a day and taking control of it, and tomorrow we have an opportunity to show that difference."
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The Bearkats opened with a 988-867 victory over Southern before defeating Maryland Eastern Shore 981-863. Sam Houston continued its strong start with a 961-920 win over Alabama State, followed by a 945-934 victory against Louisiana Tech. The Bearkats closed the day with an 888-873 win over Grambling State to finish qualifying with 4,763 total pins.
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North Carolina A&T leads the standings with 4,892 pins, followed by Louisiana Tech with 4,882. Sam Houston sits just ahead of fourth-place Alabama State, which finished with 4,760 pins.
Â
Head coach Brad Hagen was pleased with the team's 5-0 start but believes the Bearkats have another level of performance to reach.
Â
"Early in the day, we had a great look on the fresh and did a nice job taking advantage of the opportunity in front of us," Hagen said. "As the day progressed, however, we found ourselves making things more complicated than they needed to be. That's part of the challenge of tournament bowling, but it's also where confidence and discipline have to take over."
Â
Hagen emphasized the importance of trusting preparation and making confident decisions as the tournament progresses, particularly when lane conditions begin to change.
Â
"We have to do a better job keeping things simple, trusting our reads, and committing to the shots in front of us," Hagen said. "Especially later in a block, controlling the front part of the lane has to be a priority."
Â
The Bearkats have an opportunity to put themselves in position to compete for a championship heading into Sunday's action. Hagen stressed that the team must continue to focus on execution and take the tournament one frame at a time.
Â
"We're grateful for 5-0, but we're not satisfied with simply getting by," Hagen said. "There is a difference between surviving a day and taking control of it, and tomorrow we have an opportunity to show that difference."
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Friday, April 03
Friday, April 03
Thursday, April 02
Thursday, April 02
