March 14, 2009
Individual Results 
Team Standings
SMYRNA, Tenn. - Vanderbilt finished a seven-hour day of team game bowling tied for third place, which propelled the Commodores into Sunday's championship bracket in the fifth annual Columbia 300 Music City Classic.
Vanderbilt will face Arkansas State while first-seeded New Jersey City will meet Nebraska in the first round of the Baker game action starting at 8:30 a.m. CT at the Smyrna Bowling Center.
Vanderbilt received a spectacular individual performance from anchor Josie Earnest, who won the individual championship with a 218 average over six grueling games. The junior, who won national Player of the Year honors in 2008, easily topping second place Valarie Calberry of Nebraska, who had a 201 average.
"I actually think sitting out those last games yesterday helped me because I could watch more closely," Earnest said. "I made some adjustments today and was in my comfort zone. I like playing outside and used the same ball and stayed in the same place all day. After that it's all repetition. "
The long day didn't appear to have any affect on the Vandalia, Ill., sharpshooter but she said it wasn't as it appeared.
"It was hard to stay focused, especially when we were in that bye game at the end of the day and other teams were already finishing up."
The Commodores began the day in third place in a tightly bunched field that includes nine of the top ranked teams and quickly went about changing spaces. They briefly stuck their nose in first place but all teams bobbed up and down in the standings.
They opened with a strong game to top No. 3 ranked Fairleigh Dickinson, 989-890, behind an impressive game by senior Michelle Peloquin (233) and the first of six 200 or better games by Josie Earnest.
Vanderbilt followed up with the highest game of the young tourney in Game 2 by stopping a gallant Sacred Heart team battling to qualify for the NCAA Championship field of eight. With Earnest, Brittni Hamilton and Karen Grygiel all topping 200, the Black and Gold prevailed 1,004-964.
The afternoon's third game was a struggle, not from the standpoint of winning but from the more important pin fall perspective. Vandy's 890 was its lowest total of the day as only the steady Earnest had the magic.
Coach Williamson made two substitutions in the fourth game against St. Francis with little pin total improvement. Seniors Tara Kane and Kaitlin Reynolds joined the fray while Hamilton (192) and Earnest (213) led the squad to a 914 total.
The `Dores went back to their original lineup in the fifth game as the long afternoon stretched into the early evening. Vanderbilt stopped eleventh ranked Kutztown with Earnest `s anchor 227 and Grygiel's lead-off 226 providing an excellent set of bookends in the lineup.
Since there was 23 teams, many teams had a bye game in the rotation and Vanderbilt's was in its final game of the day. The `Dores posted a 936 score with Earnest's tremendous 246 carrying the heavy load.
Nebraska heated up during the afternoon and vaulted into the No. 2 seed with the best score (5,796) of the day. Vanderbilt, by contrast, tallied 5,678 pins for the second best effort.
Peloquin ended her day in 12th place among the 145 individuals while Hamilton was 25th.
Vanderbilt's Saturday Results
VU 989, Fairleigh Dickinson 890
Karen Grygiel 178
Michelle Peloquin 233
Ashley Belden 179
Brittni Hamilton 198
Josie Earnest 201
VU 1,004, Sacred Heart 964
Grygiel 209
Peloquin 197
Belden 186
Hamilton 206
Earnest 215
VU 890, Hampton 752
Grygiel 154
Peloquin 173
Belden 163
Hamilton 193
Earnest 207
VU 914, St. Francis 817
Tara Kane 171
Peloquin 193
Kaitlin Reynolds 145
Hamilton 192
Earnest 213
VU 945, Kutztown 845
Grygiel 226
Peloquin 184
Belden 161
Hamilton 147
Earnest 227
VU (Bye)
Team Standings
1. New Jersey City--10,092 total pins (9-3)
2. Nebraska--10,072 total pins (10-1)
T3. Arkansas State--10,035 total pins (10-1)
T3. Vanderbilt--10,035 total pins (9-2)
5. Fairleigh Dickinson--9,793 total pins (6-6)
6. Central Missouri--9,790 total pins (8-3)
7. Alabama A&M--9,747 total pins (7-5)
8. Delaware State--9,654 total pins (9-3)
9. Sacred Heart--9,640 total pins (7-5)
10. Minnesota State-Mankato--9,605 total pins (8-4)
11. Southern--9,554 total pins (5-6)
12. Kutztown--9,348 total pins (6-6)
13. Florida A&M--9,262 total pins (7-5)
14. Adelphi--9,241 total pins (3-9)
15. Jackson State--9,143 total pins (8-4)
16. Morgan State--8,992 total pins (3-9)
17. Saint Francis--8,912 total pins (3-9)
18. Grand Canyon--8,759 total pins (4-8)
19. Saint Peter's--8,608 total pins (2-10)
20. North Carolina A&T--8,592 total pins (4-7)
21. Hampton--8,267 total pins (2-10)
22. Winston Salem State--7,459 total pins (0-12)
23. Norfolk State--5,095 total pins (2-4)
Through 12 games
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