20th-Ranked Bowlers Back in Action This Weekend
Jan 15, 2015 | Women's Bowling
JONESBORO, Ark. - The Tulane bowling team takes to the lanes for the first time as a ranked program this weekend when they participate in the three-day Arkansas State Mid-Winter Invitational and the Jonesboro Bowling Center.
The Green Wave, with a 33-22 record this season, sits 20th in the National Ten Pin Coaches Association poll. Tulane has not been in action since the SHSU Track Kat Clash in late November.
The field of 17 teams includes eight on the top nine ranked teams in the nation. Top ranked Nebraska, third-ranked and host Arkansas State, No. 4 Central Missouri, fifth-ranked Sam Houston State, No. 6 Vanderbilt, No. 7 Wisconsin-White Water, No. 8 Stephen F. Austin and ninth-ranked Maryland-Eastern Shore make the tournament one of the best in the nation. Also joining the 20th-ranked Green Wave are No. 13 McKendree, 15th-ranked Valparaiso, Alabama State, Jackson State, Alabama A&M, Bethune-Cookman, UAB and Louisiana Tech.
"It is a tough field of competition for the first tournament of the New Year," Tulane head coach Hayley Veitch said. "If we make accurate first shots, pick up spares and keep up with the changing lane conditions we will continue to be competitive. The tournament is a different format than what we are used to with 10 traditional team games therefore we need to focus on working together as a team and communicate effectively to maximize our potential."
The tournament gets underway on Friday with five team games and will continue on Saturday with five more team games. The bracket play begins on Sunday. The bracket games will be best four out of seven Baker matches.
After this weekend, the Green Wave will return to the lanes for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcat Invitational in Ormond Beach, Fla., on Feb. 6-8.
