NEW CASTLE, Del. – The No. 1 Vanderbilt bowling team sits in fourth on the 38-team Northeast Classic leaderboard after going 5-0 on the first day of competition. The Commodores, who averaged 207.3 pins per game, compiled a Day 1 total of 5,138 pins Friday.
“Overall, it was a good day,” head coach John Williamson said. “I thought we played well after the long break from the fall semester. I thought Sydney Bohn was really good today from the leadoff spot. We just need to put another day like today together tomorrow, and we have can have the opportunity to compete for a championship on Sunday.”
The Commodores opened their day with a decisive 1,135-714 win over Long Island. Vandy got off to a 37-pin lead over the Sharks, which it only grew over the five-game set. Fourth and fifth games of 257 and 276 pins, respectively, sealed the win for the Dores.
Vanderbilt’s momentum continued into its second match of the day with Maryland-Eastern Shore, which the Dores won by a 1,010-952 decision.
Despite starting things off with a 275 game, Vandy’s match with Morgan State would be its tightest of the day. The Bears kept the Dores on their toes, posting scores of 230, 234 201, 148, and 236. Vanderbilt was able to hang on and pulled out the 1,064-1,049 win.
Early high scores of 225 and 221 and a 241 in Game 3 powered the Commodores to a 1,013-855 win over Molloy in Game 4.
To end the day, Vandy ground out a 961-932 win over 10th-ranked North Carolina A&T. It was the Dores only game under 1,000 pins on Friday.
No. 3 Nebraska leads the field, followed by No. 8 Sam Houston and No. 4 Youngstown State. Vandy is 260 pins out of the lead.
The Northeast Classic continues Saturday at 8:25 a.m. CT with the Dores’ first of five traditional matches. Fans can watch Vanderbilt’s matches on YouTube and follow Vanderbilt bowling on X at @VandyBowling.
