For the fourth consecutive match, the Commodores discover themselves simply wanting the crown.
There are two varieties of individuals: those that imagine in free will and people who do not. Regardless of the place it’s, it is an goal undeniable fact that Vanderbilt Bowling has discovered itself in the identical place it doesn’t matter what it does in 4 straight tournaments. Consider it as Groundhog Day, however with out Invoice Murray or the groundhogs — with balls and pins.
The deja vu sequence started on January 20 No. 3 Vanderbilt utterly dominated its opening day contest regardless of drawing high quality opponents in No. 12 Duquesne, No. 13 Delaware State and No. 18 Mercyhurst. The closest match of the day – confronted by the final of the aforementioned opponents – was determined by a major 112 pins.
The nice Mabel Cummins mentioned of the metaphysical dynamics between items of bowling gear: “Pins know if you’re positive of pictures.” “You get extra cargo [on the ball] and you will be fortunate.”
The Commodores’ matchup on the second day was somewhat harder. The win over No. 10 Maryland Japanese Shore was the primary recreation inside 100 pins, and the subsequent match in opposition to No. 21 Sacred Coronary heart got here right down to the ultimate frames. Ultimately, nice performances from Cummins, who completed fifth within the all-tournament rankings with a median of 223.6 pins per recreation, propelled the Commodores to a different good day.
Between Friday and Saturday, Vanderbilt posted 10 wins and its first good playoff document of the season — actually, it was the workforce’s first 10-0 document for the reason that begin of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mixed with their amassed pin whole, that document tied the Commodores for the very best mark coming into bracket play.
“One of many issues they did rather well this weekend is that they by no means anxious about what was happening round them,” head coach Josie Barnes mentioned. “They have been simply being themselves.”
On the opposing finish of the Commodores’ first bracket recreation — a match that decided an automated bid to the championship spherical — was No. 1 McKendree. As reported earlier than, the Bearcats have been a thorn in Vanderbilt’s aspect all season. Actually, heading into the match, they held a 4-0 season collection lead in opposition to the Commodores.
Previous setbacks did not maintain Vanderbilt again early within the match as they jumped out to an early 2-0 lead within the best-of-seven collection. After the groups underperformed in Video games 3 and 4, the Commodores pulled out an insurmountable 3-1 victory.
Nonetheless, as insurmountable because it was, the Bearcats made an effort to shut the hole with a scorching 247-pin efficiency in Sport 5. Sadly, a double and turkey in Sport 6 put McKendree to sleep and allowed. The Commodores will get their first win of the season in opposition to the top-ranked workforce within the nation.
A spot within the championship spherical after the primary Sunday collection could be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it offers you time to loosen up and regroup earlier than the most important second of the weekend. However, the adjustment interval between a bye spherical and a championship match could be fairly tough.
“Psychological change [between matches] it is one thing we’ve to study to get higher at,” Barnes mentioned.
That potential lethargy was referred to as into query as Vanderbilt dropped the championship collection opener 228-225 to No. 4 Nebraska. A slight nudge of the ball in a single path may have been the distinction in blowing an early lead and discovering an early gap.
“You simply cannot give good groups that sort of management,” Barnes mentioned.
That early deficit took its toll on Vanderbilt’s psyche, because the workforce put up a horrendous 169-pin efficiency in Sport 2. Cummins’ late-game heroics then prevented a low-scoring Sport 3 from turning into one other loss.
“We now have to imagine we should win,” Cummins mentioned of what Vanderbilt must do in crunch time. “Nobody works more durable than us.”
Nice leaders lead by instance, and Cummins’ workforce clearly discovered from his Sport 4 comeback success. With 235 pins, it was the Commodores’ highest-scoring match within the championship spherical and tied the collection document at 2-2.
Sadly, a pricey break up in Sport 5 proved essential in a slender loss to Vanderbilt that put the workforce on the point of elimination. Then, due to an earth-shattering 243-pin Sport 6 by Nebraska, the Commodores have been pushed out.
“Being on the end line stinks, and it looks like there’s at all times one thing happening that does not allow you to by means of,” Barnes mentioned.
However, he sounded a constructive notice regardless of the irritating end result.
“If championships hold coming our means, we’ll get there finally,” Barnes mentioned.
Agreed with Cummins.
“Work ethic will get us there,” mentioned the workforce captain. “One in every of lately we’ll get fortunate as a result of it is our time.”
Vanderbilt Bowling will likely be again in motion for the Prairie View A&M Invitational Jan. 27-29 in Arlington, Texas. You may watch each recreation dwell on Vanderbilt Athletics YouTube channel.
