STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The No. 24 Monmouth University bowling team opened its 2026-27 season in championship fashion, winning the Seahawk Invite hosted by Wagner University at Rab's Country Lanes on Oct. 24-25. The Hawks finished first among eight teams, capping the weekend with a 4-3 comeback victory over Morgan State in the Baker match-play championship.
 
Monmouth entered the season ranked No. 24 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) rankings and navigated two days of qualifying competition before securing the tournament title. The Hawks posted a 5-3 record across Saturday's Baker matches and Sunday's traditional team matches, recording five wins by an average margin of 101.4 pins. Their three qualifying losses came by an average of 71 pins.
 
The Hawks opened Saturday's Baker competition with a loss to Delaware State before responding with three consecutive victories over Molloy, Adelphi and host Wagner. Monmouth closed the day with a loss to LIU before earning traditional victories over Caldwell and Delaware State on Sunday. Despite a loss to Morgan State in traditional play, the Hawks earned the top seed for the Baker match-play championship and avenged that defeat when it mattered most.
 
Monmouth fell behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven championship series against Morgan State but won the final three games to secure the title. The Hawks began their comeback with a 160-135 victory in Game 3 before taking Game 5, 230-196, and Game 6, 202-161, to even the series at three games apiece. Monmouth then edged Morgan State, 171-167, in the deciding game to claim the championship.
 
In traditional play, Kailyn Bloch led the Hawks with three consecutive 200-plus performances, rolling games of 226, 216 and 237. Morgan Davis added two 200-plus games, posting a 201 against Caldwell and a 204 against Delaware State. Monmouth recorded five individual games of 200 or higher across Sunday's three traditional matches.
 
The Seahawk Invite marks Monmouth's first tournament victory of the 2026-27 campaign and its first event title since winning the Griffin Baker Classic in early February 2026. The Hawks won five events during the 2025-26 season and have started the new campaign with another championship.
 
Individual Monmouth Scores (Traditional)
- Kailyn Bloch: 226, 216, 237
- Morgan Davis: 201, 173, 204
- Leah Rodriguez: 178, 141
- Grace Kraemer: 151
- Sage Wakely: 161, 143
- Abby Binck: 173, 135
- Ava Johnson: 151, 175

Up Next
Monmouth continues the early stages of its 2026-27 season at the NEC 1 event in Mount Joy, Pa. at Clearview Lanes. The event will consist of six traditional and six baker matches.

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