Women's Bowling | 3/2/2025 10:17:00 PM
GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T placed third in its annual Vernell Stallings Invitational on Sunday at AMF All Star Lanes after a thrilling best-of-seven Baker match against the 15th-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, Duquesne University during bracket play.
The Aggies totaled 12,866 pins in 67 games over the three-day tournament, including second-ranked Vanderbilt, third-ranked Jacksonville State and sixth-ranked Aggies. The Aggies averaged 192.0 after bowling an additional traditional match on Sunday, which was a bye.
A&T bowled a 928, in which senior Grace Stull had a 207 total pinfall, and graduate Melanie Katen posted a 204 pinfall. Stull's final traditional match propelled her into all-tournament status as she finished fifth overall with 1,222 total pins in six games for a 203.7 average. Vanderbilt's Alyssa Ballard was the tournament winner with a total pinfall of 1,312 (218.67).
Seniors Chloe Newberry, Laura Garcia, Maya Avilez and Katen were honored on Sunday morning.
"My favorite part of the day was spotlighting our beautiful, hardworking seniors," said freshman Tiana Cruz. "It was super amazing to have everyone in the team participate alongside our seniors in their last home meet."
The last home meet started with a matchup against Jax State. The Aggies entered Sunday's bracket play as the No. 4 seed and thus had to face the top-seeded Gamecocks. The Gamecocks took a 2-0 lead in the best of seven by out-pinning A&T 417-383. A&T recovered nicely to defeat Jax State 248-179.
In Game 4, the Gamecocks won by the slimmest of margins, defeating the Aggies 197-196 before ending the best of seven with a 231-170 win. After winning the series against A&T 4-1, the Gamecocks advanced to play Vandy, where the Commodores won the 2025 Stallings Invitational by defeating the Gamecocks in five games.
Meanwhile, A&T and Duquesne battled for third place in an entertaining contest. The Aggies took Game 1 easily with a 243-183 win. The Dukes recovered to win Game 2, 205-169. A&T took a 2-1 lead over the Dukes by winning Game 3 before the Dukes claimed a 199-192 win over the Aggies to even the series at 2-2.
Duquesne won the crucial Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead before the teams tied the next game 171-171 to force an additional Game 6. A&T evened the series by posting its best score with a 244-169 win. In the eighth overall game, the Aggies took down the Dukes 129-117 to win the series 4-3.
"I loved the fight we had," said Newberry. "Things were hard, but we fought to the very end, and I wouldn't have it any other way. This was the hardest third-place finish, but the most fulfilling."
The Aggies will bowl in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Sectional, March 7-9, at Thunderbolt Lanes in Allen Park, Mich.
"I'm looking forward to hearing the chants and cheers, the different intensity from the crowds and fellow competitors, and for more bowling knowledge on and off the lanes going into next week's tournament."
