MONMOUTH CLAIMS FOURTH PLACE AT 2016 HAWK FLIGHT INVITATIONAL

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - The 16th-ranked Monmouth University women's bowling team finished in fourth place overall at the 2016 Hawk Flight Invitational over the weekend at Carolier Lanes. Monmouth, which went 5-0 on day one with victories over two top-10 teams, finished 7-5.

During action, Monmouth posted victories over three nationally-ranked squads, including two in the top-10.

On Friday, the Hawks rallied with consecutive 246's in the final two games to defeat #9 Fairleigh Dickinson 1139-983 to start the competition, before defeating Caldwell (1062-942) and Franklin Pierce (1061-943). In match four, Monmouth topped #19 St. Francis Brooklyn 994-993, and used a round of 260 en route to a 1132-1125 victory over #3 Vanderbilt in the final game of the day to sit at 5-0, and in first place after day one.

Junior Kaitlyn Reth's (Baltimore, MD/Overlea) 246 led Monmouth in its 1115-1047 loss to #14 LIU Brooklyn in game one to kick off action on Saturday, while freshman Haley Solberg (Belvidere, IL/Belvidere North) carded a 224 and senior Valerie Bermudez (Guayanabo, Puerto Rico/Cupey Maria Montessori) inked a 222 to pace the Hawks in their 1147-1023 setback to Kutztown.

With five straight strikes to open action against NJCU, the Hawks rallied for a 1026-760 victory in game three, as Reth (222), Bermudez (219) and junior Jessica Nannemann (Waterford, WI/Waterford Union) (212) paced Monmouth. In game four, Reth (237), Solberg (231), Nannemann (209) and sophomore Julie Bianco (Holtwood, PA/Penn Manor) (201) led the Blue & White to a 1068-951 victory over Felician. In the final game of day two, Solberg's 234 led Monmouth against #4 Sam Houston State, but the Bearkats rallied to defeat the Hawks 1045-988.

At 7-3 through two days of action, Monmouth was seeded fourth going into bracket match play on Sunday and was pitted against top-seeded #3 Vanderbilt, which topped the Hawks 4-1. Monmouth fell to fourth position with its 4-2 loss to #14 LIU Brooklyn in round two of bracket play to close out the event.

"Overall, it was a good weekend," stated head coach Karen Grygiel. "We showed a lot of heart. Our execution and spare shooting improved, but we still have work to do before our next event in Nashville."

Monmouth returns to action on March 18-20 at the Vanderbilt Music City Classic in Nashville, TN.

Photo: On Saturday, Monmouth celebrated Senior Day, honoring Bermudez and Mariah Jacobson (Kiester, MN/United South Central), along with seniors from all of the participating schools.

@MU_Bowling -- #FlyHawks

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Players Mentioned

Valerie Bermudez: RH; 5' 2"; Sophomore

Mariah Jacobson: RH; 5' 7"; Freshman

#4 Jessica Nannemann: RH; Freshman

#12 Kaitlyn Reth: RH; 5' 2"; Freshman

#27 Julie Bianco: RH; 5' 4"; Freshman

#13 Haley Solberg: RH; 5' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Valerie Bermudez
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: RH

Mariah Jacobson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: RH

#4 Jessica Nannemann
: Freshman
: RH

#12 Kaitlyn Reth
: 5' 2"; Freshman
: RH

#27 Julie Bianco
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: RH

#13 Haley Solberg
: 5' 3"; Freshman
: RH