Women's Bowling | 3/7/2026 10:47:00 PM
SMYRNA, Tenn. – The North Carolina A&T bowling team moved up one spot from sixth place to fifth place after the second day of the Music City Classic hosted by Vanderbilt University at the Smyrna Bowling Center on Saturday.
The Aggies, the 12th-ranked team in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25, had a total pinfall of 5,118 on Saturday during traditional team match play. The Aggies have a two-day total pinfall of 10,243 and an average of 204.9 over 51 games. A&T 3-2 on Saturday and hold a 7-3 record for the tournament as they enter Sunday's best-of-seven bracket play, played in Baker format.
Jacksonville State University, the top-ranked team in the nation, leads the tournament with a total pinfall of 10,702, averaging 214.0 over two days. The Gamecocks are 10-0 in the tournament. Eighth-ranked Sam Houston State University (SHSU) is in second place with a total pinfall of 10,558 for an average of 211.2. Tournament host and second-ranked Vanderbilt (10,489, 209.8), third-ranked Arkansas State (10,370, 207.4), and A&T round out the top five.
The Aggies will face No. 6 seed Louisiana Tech, the fifth-ranked team in the nation. La Tech is a longtime NCAA tournament rival of A&T.
Individually, junior Payton Hartgrove led the Aggies with a total pinfall of 1,078, averaging 215.0 over five games to place 12th. Freshman Charisse Graham had the second-highest pinfall total for A&T, placing 36th with a 998 total pinfall and a 198.60 average. In a tournament with 221 bowling participants, sophomore Victorya White also cracked the top 50 with a total pinfall of 971 to average 194.20 over five games to place 50th.
Jax State's Gianna Brandolino leads the tournament with a total pinfall of 1,159 (231.80). She is followed by Niagara's Emily Brock at 1,149 (229.80) and Vanderbilt's Katelyn Abigaina at 1,125 (225.0) in the top 3.
To open Saturday's action, the Aggies faced No. 1 Jax State and had a rough go of it. Brandolino's 248 total pinfall led the Gamecocks to a 1,055-875 win over the Aggies. Only one Aggie reached a total pinfall of 180 in the matchup. The Aggies erased that matchup from their memory and went after ninth-ranked Wright State with ferocity. The Aggies received one of their best showings of the season from sophomore Jasmine Hall.
Hall bowled a 255 to lead the Aggies to a 1,074-918 win over the Raiders. Senior Juliana Sams added a total pinfall of 235, and Hartgrove added a 209 total pinfall in A&T's victory. A&T also imposed its will over Carthage College, beating the Firebirds 1,060-846. Hartgrove led the way with a 236 total pinfall in the matchup. Graham stepped in and bowled a 212, followed closely by Hall's 211 total pinfall. Sams continued to bowl well by posting a 209 pinfall.
Unfortunately, the Aggies dropped to 2-2 on the day with a narrow loss to 15th-ranked Newman University. The Jets defeated the Aggies 1,086-1,024 behind a total pinfall of 225 from Paighton Crumley. Graham led A&T by posting a 223 total pinfall, followed by Hartgrove's 209 total pinfall. White added a 200 total pinfall. After the disappointing loss, the Aggies closed the day with a 1,092-949 win over Western Illinois.
Hartgrove showed up big again for the Aggies, totaling 253 pins, followed by Hall's 220 total pinfall. Sams continued to showcase her senior leadership with a 211 total pinfall. White and Graham completed the dominance with a 204 total pinfall apiece.
Best-of-seven bracket play begins at 8:55 a.m. on Sunday.
