Women's Bowling | 3/15/2025 10:50:00 PM
SMYRNA, Tenn. – The North Carolina A&T defeated another ranked team and produced an impressive blowout win during the second day of the Music City Classic hosted by Vanderbilt University at the Smyrna Bowling Center on Saturday.
The Aggies, the eighth-ranked bowling team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, went 3-2 on Saturday and 1-2 against ranked teams during traditional match play.
A&T will head into best-of-seven bracket play on Sunday as the fifth seed after producing a total pinfall of 4,944 on Saturday. The Aggies' total pinfall for the tournament is 10,116. Fourth-ranked Youngstown State leads the tournament with a total pinfall of 10,317, followed by tournament-host and third-ranked Vanderbilt with 10,295 total pinfall.
Individually, freshman
Victorya White led the Aggies with a total pinfall of 1,049. White averaged 209.80 over five games. She is in 10th place, with one additional match scheduled for Sunday morning against seventh-ranked Sam Houston State University (SHSU). Senior
Maya Avilez is in 23rd with a total pinfall of 1,014, averaging 202.80 over five games. Maryville University's Elizabeth Teuber leads the tournament by knocking down 1,161 pins.
"The lanes did not play the same as Friday," said senior
Laura Garcia after the Aggies went 5-0 on Friday. "We had a rough time adjusting and making the right changes. However, we still bounced back after difficult moments and difficult matches."
A&T had a difficult loss to 10th-ranked Maryville, losing to the Saints 994-983. White led the Aggies with a 222 total pinfall, and junior Julianna Sams contributed with a 200 pinfall. But the Aggies could not overcome Morgan Brunner's 235, which led the Saints to victory. A&T recovered nicely.
The Aggies defeated ninth-ranked Stephen F. Austin 1,027-955. White led the way again, bowling a 220. She had plenty of help. Avilez bowled 211, and Sams and senior
Chloe Newberry contributed 207 pinfalls.
Youngstown State got the best of the Aggies in the third game. The Penguins defeated A&T 1,110-892 behind Madyson Marx's 254 total pinfall. Sams led A&T by bowling a 213 before the Aggies put together one of their most dominant performances of the 2024-25 season. They defeated Quincy 1,032-640.
"I loved how we were able to come back after a tough match," said Newberry. "I feel pretty confident in what we can do tomorrow. We've learned a lot from today, and we will be ready for anything tomorrow."
White led A&T against Quincy with a 256 total pinfall. Newberry had her best game of the day, posting a 222, followed by Avilez's 203 pinfall. A 1,010-912 win over Lewis University ended A&T's day. Avilez led the way with a 244 pinfall. Sophomore
Savannah Burgin stepped in and bowled a 224 total pinfall in the only game she participated in on Saturday.
The Aggies are 8-2 over two days in Tennessee.
"I would say that I learned what changes to make based on how the lanes looked," said Garcia. "Today was a lot of experimenting and trying. However, I think that it was necessary to make better decisions for the championship matches."
