Courtesy of NSU Sports Information

NSU Finishes Perfect at Hampton Roads Invitational

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – The Norfolk State bowling team kicked off its 2014-15 season by finishing a perfect 10-0 at the Hampton Roads Invitational over the weekend at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake.

NSU went 5-0 both Saturday and Sunday, with no other team finishing better than 6-4. A total of six teams competed at the tournament.

Sophomore Nicole Rivera Santiago led NSU on Saturday in traditional play, finishing with a 183.8 average to earn one of the five spots on the all-tournament team. Following Senior Day festivities, the day’s action started off with NSU’s closest win, an 880-865 victory over Bowie State.

The Spartans followed it up with comfortable wins over Elizabeth City State, 928-834, and Howard, 899-793. NSU topped Morgan State, 810-771, and then capped off the first day of play with an 811-549 win over Chowan.

Senior Kelsea Yarbrough averaged 180.6 in all five games to just miss out on all-tournament team honors. Junior Carrie Hickey and senior Courtney Brown tallied averages of 176.4 and 176.0, respectively, in all five games. Seniors Delilah Bethel and Ashley Buck combined to round out the lineup, with Bethel seeing time in three games and Buck appearing in two.

On Sunday, the Spartans did not start well but still defeated Chowan 4-0 in Baker play. NSU topped Howard 4-1 in the next round, capped by a score of 211, and then needed all seven games to defeat Morgan State, 4-3. The Spartans rallied to win the last two games to pull out the victory.

NSU had a 219 in the final game in a 4-1 win over Bowie State, and the Spartans finished the weekend sweep with a 4-2 victory over Elizabeth City State in the final matchup.

Bowie State and Elizabeth City State each went 6-4 on the weekend.

Melissa Borum and Jana Aliya Boyd of Elizabeth City State, Moneshia Smith of Howard and Briana Evans of Morgan State joined Rivera Santiago on the all-tournament team.

NSU will next compete in the MEAC Southern Divisional from Nov. 8-9 in Greensboro, N.C.