Junior Lilu Smith (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) earned All-Tournament Team recognition at the conclusion of the Red Flash Invitational in Altoona, Pa. on Sunday, as the #19 Valpo bowling team closed out the tournament in fourth place.

How It Happened

• Valpo opened the final day of competition — bracket play contested in the best-of-seven baker format — against host #RV St. Francis (Pa.) and handily defeated the Red Flash, bookending the match with games of 227 and 214 in a 4-1 victory.
• The win over the hosts sent the Beacons into a matchup against #15 Mount St. Mary’s — a match whose winner would have the chance to bowl for the tournament title. The Mountaineers took each of the first three games, but Valpo did not succumb easily.
• The Beacons extended the match with a 211 in game four and then beat out the Mountaineers by five pins in game five to cut the deficit to 3-2. A 215 for Valpo in game six forced a winner-take-all final game, but Mount St. Mary’s thwarted the Beacons’ comeback attempt by taking game seven.
• The loss dropped Valpo into the third-place match against #RV Saint Vincent. Back-to-back 201 games gave the Beacons a 2-0 lead in the match before the Bearcats responded by winning games three and four. Valpo took game five to move within one game of the match win, but Saint Vincent took game six and then edged the Beacons by four pins in game seven.
• Smith earned her spot on the All-Tournament Team by virtue of placing fourth in the tournament’s individual standings. The junior averaged a 197.8 over Friday’s five traditional team matches, highlighted by a 246 game in a win over Morgan State. For Smith, it is the third All-Tournament Team honor of her collegiate career.

Next Up

Valpo (39-24) returns to action in two weekends, making the short trip to Lockport, Ill. for the three-day Flyer Classic, hosted by Lewis. The tournament begins Friday, Feb. 9.