FINAL RESULTS
Monmouth: 8-4 overall
Baker: 2-2
Traditional: 5-1
Championship: 1-1
HAMILTON, NJ - The Monmouth University bowling team finished in third out of 11 teams and posted an 8-4 overall record at the NJ Open this past weekend in Hamilton, NJ.
After dropping the first two matches, the Hawks rattled off seven consecutive wins over the course of two days. They won two Baker matches on Friday, with the first coming in the form of an 870-806 win over NJCU. Monmouth followed that win up by edging Wilmington, 1,029-1,021.
On Saturday, the Hawks, who were co-hosting the event at Hamilton Lanes alongside Fairleigh Dickinson University, recorded an impressive 5-1 record in traditional format. The squad notched wins over Saint Anselm (939-771), No. 24 Morgan State (1,033-1,008), Adelphi (931-809), Wagner (1,105-948), and Bloomfield (914-785).
Monmouth's win total over ranked opponents sits at eleven following the win over their MEAC-rival Bears. The Hawks are now 2-2 versus Morgan State, 3-0 versus Bloomfield, and 2-0 against NJCU this season.
The Hawks entered Sunday's championship bracket as the fourth seed, and after losing top No. 15 (and top-seeded) Fairleigh Dickinson in a seven-game series, MU won the third-place match over Wilmington, 4-3.
The tandem of
Jamie Phelan and
Skylar Smith led the charge for Monmouth. Both posted a high game of 255, with Phelan earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team. The lefty averaged 216.5 pins per game, including three 200+ games. Smith, a fifth-year senior, added two 200+ performances.
Jenna Lehrer had another strong weekend, averaging 198 pins per game and recording two 200+ games.
Sierra Poole added a high game of 245 versus No. 15 FDU.
As a team, Monmouth knocked down an average of 192.6 pins over 69 total games. The Hawks outbowled their opponents 13,289-11,978 on the weekend.
NOTES & QUOTES
"This was another strong weekend for our program. I'm proud of the progress I'm seeing with this team. I enjoy continuing to see improvements with each of our bowlers. We're excited to bowl in Nashville in a couple of weeks, which will get us ready for our conference championships." – Head Coach
Karen Grygiel
- The Hawks improve a 46-42 overall record on the 2022-23 season.
- The Hawks now have eleven wins over ranked opponents this season.
- Monmouth's highest pin total in baker play was 1,029 against Wilmington.
- Monmouth's highest pin total in traditional play was 1,105 against Wagner.
- MU's largest margin of victory was by 168 pins over Saint Anselm on Saturday.
- The Hawks are 3-0 versus Bloomfield and 2-0 versus NJCU this season.
NEXT UP
The Hawks have a week off before they compete in the Music City Classic in Smyrna, TN. The three-day event hosted by Vanderbilt University begins Friday, March 17.
