Courtesy of North Carolina A&T State Athletic Communications


GREENSBORO, N.C. – The fourth-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, the North Carolina A&T Aggies won the Vernell Stallings Invitational bowling tournament Sunday in dominant fashion at Triad Lanes. 

The Aggies (52-8) won their fifth tournament in six tries by 915 pins and improved to 20-1 at Triad Lanes this season. Freshman Melanie Katen won the individual standings with 1,109 total pins to average 221.8 over five games. Katen earned tournament MVP honors and was named to the all-tournament team. 

The Aggies totaled 4,958 pins Sunday and totaled 10,012 pins for the weekend to average 200.2. Fifteenth-ranked Lincoln Memorial finished second with 9,097 total pins (181.9).                

The Aggies started the day with a 932-829 win over Lincoln Memorial. Strombeck recorded seven strikes and four spares in the win as she totaled 226 pins. A&T followed with a 981-819 win over Tusculum in the second game. 

Tomaszewski led the Aggies with seven strikes and a 225 score. Katen complemented her with a 217.  

Game 3 saw the Aggies struggle a bit, as the Belmont Abbey Crusaders took a 506-459 lead after the fifth game. The Crusaders had 10 open frames, which allowed the Aggies to rally. A&T outscored Belmont Abbey 117-81 in the sixth frame to cut the lead to 587-576. 

The Aggies took the lead after the seventh frame by outscoring the Crusaders 115-73 for a 691-660 lead. Led by Strombeck's 223 and Tomaszewski's 202, The Aggies defeated the Crusaders, 969-879.       

Strombeck recorded seven strikes in the game, including four consecutive from the sixth through the ninth frame.  

During the bye, the Aggies were outstanding. Katen nearly bowled perfectly as she posted a season-high 288, followed by Strombeck's 235, senior Ana Olaya's 222 and Tomaszewski's 204. Katen started with a nine-spare in the first frame but recorded 10 consecutive strikes and finished with an eight in the final throw in the 10th frame.                                   

The Aggies finished with a 937-892 win over Norfolk State in the final game. Katen closed out her day with a 234 as she continued bowling strike. Five of Katen's first six frames were strikes. 

Strombeck and Tomaszewski joined Katen on the all-tournament team as Strombeck finished second with 1,051 total pins (210.2), and Tomaszewski chipped in with a fourth-place finish after totaling 1,027 pins (205.4).