The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's bowling team collected a total pinfall of 8568 at the NCAA Tournament qualifying rounds on Thursday in Orlando, FL to earn top ranking at the NCAA Tournament.
The Knights' total pinfall of 8568 gives them top ranking, and they will face No. 8 Minnesota State- Mankato (7674) at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 13. Nebraska earns the second seed (8553) and will compete against No. 7 New Jersey City University (7676). No. 3 Vanderbilt will face No. 6 Sacred Heart (7912) and No. 4 University of Central Missouri (8277) will match up against No. 5 UMES (8172).
The first day consists of the qualifying rounds, which determines each team's seed based on total pinfall. The matches do not count against the team's record. The day started with four traditional team games.
In the first game of the day, FDU defeated UMES in the first game, 1058-1006. Kristy Kerr (Essexville, Michigan/Garber) shot a 257 to lead the Knights, while Christi White (Croydon, Pennsylvania/Harry S. Truman) rolled a 210 in the leadoff spot and Erica Perez (Carteret, New Jersey/Carteret) bowled a 203.
Fairleigh Dickinson faced off against Sacred Heart in the second game, falling 1065-1003. Kerr again led the squad, rolling a 241, while White shot a 215.
In the third game, FDU defeated NJCU, 1018-996. For the third-straight game, Kerr was the high-scorer for the Knights, bowling a 224. Patricia Dahiroc (Teaneck, New Jersey/Immaculate Heart Academy) came in to shoot a 214.
In the final of the five traditional games, the Knights rolled past Central Missouri, with a season-high game of 1202 against the Jennies' 1082. Dahiroc led the Knights with a big game of 287, which was the tournament high-game. Perez shot a 277, White bowled a 255 and Kerr added a game of 202.
Kerr led the Knights in the first block with a total pinfall of 924 (231 average), ranking second overall, just one pin behind Central Missouri's Tina Peak; White shot 870 in five games (217.5 average), ranking ninth overall; and Perez racked up a total of 868 (217 average), tied for 10th in the individual standings. In two games of action, Dahiroc tallied 501 (250.5 average).
Kerr rolled the highest score in game one (257) and Dahiroc's 287 was the high game for the fourth contest as well as the singles high.
In the second block of the qualifying round, FDU played four five-game Baker matches.
In the first baker match, the Knights out-scored Minnesota-Mankato, 1031-871. In the second match, FDU rolled past Nebraska, 1169-1078, which included a near-perfect game of 289. Against Vanderbilt, Fairleigh Dickinson was out-scored 1061-967.
Nebraska reclaimed the lead from Fairleigh Dickinson heading into the final match, with a 31-pin lead and the two teams facing off. The Knights were able to earn the No. 1 seed, out-scoring the Huskers, 1120-1074 in the last match.
Based on the qualifying round, teams are placed in a double-elimination bracket. Teams compete against each other in a best-of-seven Baker-style bowling competition. Ties within a Baker game will be decided by a ninth and 10th frame roll-off. Once bracket play has commenced, the higher seed gets starting lane choice for the final game of the match if it is an odd number and/or if there is a tie-breaker game that must be played.
“It was an extremely emotional day that came out to be one of the most positive days of the season,” said Head Coach Mike LoPresti. “We were able to maintain our composure through the highs and lows and that was the difference in the end. However, just because we are the No. 1 seed?we have won a battle, but still have to win the war.”
“The real test is tomorrow, when the matches are elimination,” said LoPresti. “We need to maintain our level of competition and success tomorrow; otherwise we will be going home early. I'm extremely proud of our freshmen in their first National Championship. They stepped up and performed far better than expected. Nevertheless, it was a team effort and it'll have to be the same way tomorrow for us to win.”
