UMES takes third place at 2015 Hawk Classic
MILLSBORO, Del. –The young Hawks of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) grew up quick this weekend, with most bowling in their first Hawk Classic. After two tough days, where the Hawks went 9-3 and held on to a fifth place standing, the team learned to gut out some big wins on the final day, going 3-0 and climbing to third place overall at the 2015 Hawk Classic, sponsored by The Hyatt Place Dewey Beach.
UMES opened up against the sixth-seeded Red Flash of St. Francis University (PA). In the best-four-of-seven Baker format, The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead (188-179, 192-180). The Red Flash struck back in game three, 198-167. UMES jumped out to a 3-1 lead with a nail biter win in game four 201-199. Game five saw SFPA edge UMES in another tight game, 178-176. The Hawks finished off the match for the win 223-293.
UMES advanced to take on the fourth-seed Monmouth, who fell to Vanderbilt in round one. In a Hawks vs. Hawks match-up Monmouth took the win in games one and two, 212-191 and 197. Monmouth then went up 3-0 with a 184-179 close win and things looked bleak for the maroon and grey. But the poise Coach Bandy spoke of came into play and UMES rattled off the next four games (205-188, 204-188, 236-166, 218-187) to once again advance.
Next up was top-seed Sam Houston State. The Bearkats had gone 11-1 throughout the first two days and had a commanding edge as the top seed. But Sunday was a different day as they dropped a pair of matches to start the day, with losses to Central Missouri and Vanderbilt. With the 2013 National Champions reeling the Hawks took advantage and posted a deciding victory four games to none (199-160, 215-171, 180-177, 191-179).
The wins locked UMES into third place, the highest they could finish starting as the fifth seed. Sam Houston State, as the one-seed, finished fourth. Central Missouri won the event, despite losing twice to the host Hawks and once to Vanderbilt in match play, who finished in second place as the runner-up. The championship match went all seven games between the two central region powers with the Jennies winning the final three games.
Monmouth took 5th, St. Francis (PA) was 6th, Long Island was 7th and Fairleigh Dickinson was 8th. Delaware State was 9th and Tulane rounded out the top 10 teams.
The tournament named Michelle Ng of Tulane as the tournament MVP. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team was Sam Houston’s Anna Groce, Monmouth’s Kaitlyn Reth, Central Missouri’s Justyne Falbo and UMES’ own Thashaina Seraus.
Seraus not only had a top five All-Tournament Team finish, but made a difference on the final day.
This weekend UMES improved to 25-10 overall. With five of the National Tenpins Coaches Association’s (NTCA) top ten teams at the event, UMES picked up some quality wins. They finished better than #2 Fairleigh Dickinson, #4 Sam Houston State and #10 Delaware State. Even tournament winner, #9 Central Missouri took a pair of losses to the Hawks. Along the way the Hawks topped other ranked teams, including numbers 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23 and 24.
UMES if off the rest of November and has just one more tournament in 2015. They head to Dover, Del. on December 5-6 for the MEAC Northern Division meet #2.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com
Spartans finish 13th at UMES Hawk Classic
MILLSBORO, Del. – The No. 20 Norfolk State bowling team finished 13th with a 6-9 overall record during the three-day UMES Hawk Classic this weekend at the Millsboro Lanes.
The Spartans ranked 14th after the first day of Baker play with a pin total of 5,160 but moved up to 13th following Saturday’s traditional play. NSU went 2-4 during both days and then completed bracket play on Sunday with a 2-1 record, rallying to top No. 16 Kutztown in the final match after the Golden Bears had defeated the Spartans earlier in the day.
A total of 20 teams competed at the tournament, including 15 ranked squads.
Sophomore Briana Gardner had a big day on Saturday for NSU, as she had the best tournament of her career with a 196.2 average. Included was a career-high 231 as well as a 212, helping Gardner finish 17th at the tournament in terms of average.
Not to be outdone, freshman Alexa Rodriguez rolled a 259 along with a 221 to tally a 186.5 average. Her 259 is tied for the fourth-best individual game by a Spartan bowler and the best since Thea Aspiras had a 259 on Jan. 25, 2014.
Freshman Yarelis Burgos bowled all six games as well and averaged 181.0 with a season high of 212 and another game of 211. Senior Carrie Hickey and sophomore Meagan Marciano each averaged exactly 170.0 in all six games on Saturday. Marciano’s 221 in the third match of the day was her career high as well.
The Spartans dropped their first two matches on Friday, suffering a 940-808 setback against No. 9 Central Missouri and then a 977-845 loss to No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson. After a narrow defeat of Kutztown, 882-871, NSU fell in its fourth match of the day, 884-845 to No. 18 St. Francis Brooklyn.
NSU finished out the day with an 866-676 triumph over New Jersey City, followed by Kutztown getting a piece of revenge with a 920-914 victory over the Spartans. NSU averaged 172.0 in its games on Friday.
On Saturday, Rodriguez’ 259 helped NSU finish tied with No. 15 Sacred Heart in the opening match of the day at 997-all. The Pioneers, though, won the tiebreaker 117-107 for the victory. The Spartans then downed Franklin Pierce, 881-835, before falling in the next two matches. No. 13 Saint Francis (Pa.) first picked up a 973-953 win, and No. 24 Adelphi followed that up by downing NSU, 959-781.
The Spartans got their second in of the day, 952-898 over No. 14 LIU Brooklyn, before MEAC foe Howard earned a 912-858 victory over NSU to close out the day.
Norfolk State averaged 176.4 on the second day of the tournament and ranked 11th with a total pin fall of 5,422. That allowed NSU to move up to 13th place for the bracket round.
NSU and Kutztown faced off twice on Sunday during that bracket round, with the Golden Bears taking the first match by a 4-1 score. Taking on Howard again, NSU fell behind by a 3-2 score. After a 183-178 win in game 6, the Spartans came away with an easier 227-176 victory in the last game to win the match, 4-3.
Facing Kutztown again, the Spartans again fell behind, this time by a 3-0 score. The Golden Bears then fell apart, rolling games of 127, 135, 130 and 121 as NSU completed the sweep by winning those last four games by at least 39 pins each time.
Norfolk State finished the tournament with a 178.1 average and ranked 12th in total pin fall (14,072).
The Spartans will complete the calendar year with the second MEAC Southern Divisional of the year from Dec. 5-6 and hosted by Bethune-Cookman.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com