GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T bowling is in second place after two days of competition at the N.C. A&T Vernell Stallings Invitational at Triad Lanes. The Aggies knocked down 10,224 total pins. 

The Aggies, the sixth-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, are 9-0 going into bracket play on Sunday. Only the fourth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores have more pins than the Aggies with 10,411. 

Senior Ericka Quesada leads the tournament with 1,133 total pins for a five-game average of 226.6. Two other Aggies are in the top-10 as sophomore Melanie Katen is fifth with 1,083 total pins, and junior Lauren Tomaszewski finished sixth by knocking down 1,081 pins. 

Senior Pamela Warr totaled 927 pins, and freshman Chloe Newberry competed in three matches and totaled 591 pins. Senior Cristina Acosta and freshman Maya Avilez were rounding out competition for the ladies. Both bowlers competed in one game apiece, with Acosta bowling a 215 and Avilez finishing with a 204. 

A&T began the day against No. 10 Mount St. Mary's, whom they beat, 1,079-1,024. A&T was fueled by three 200-plus games, including Katen's team-high 245. A&T bowled in a bye next, bowling a Saturday-best 1,125. Quesada contributed a tournament-best and career-high 277 in the match. 

In their second official match, A&T faced No. 21 Lincoln Memorial. Quesada and Katen had 225 games en route to a narrow 987-924 win. The Aggies defeated Howard next to move to 3-0. A&T blew out the Bison, 1,000-671, behind a 245 from Katen. Avilez contributed a 204. 

In their fourth and final match of the day, A&T faced Tusculum. Four of the five Aggies bowled 200-plus games, and Quesada's 250 led the way to a 1,063-869 triumph for A&T. 

The Aggies are the second seed going into Sunday and will face top-seeded Vanderbilt for a berth in the championship game. Bowling begins at 10 a.m. inside Triad Lanes on Sunday.