The #RV Valparaiso University bowling team closed out the Columbia 300 Saints Invitational in Chesterfield, Mo. on a high note on Sunday, setting a program record for average in a best-of-seven baker match in its final match of the event to end the tournament in seventh place.

How It Happened

• The first match of Sunday’s action was the final traditional team match of the tournament. Valpo downed North Central 871-819, led by a 195 game from sophomore Sam Perez (Aurora, Ill./Oswego East).
• The teams were then placed into four-team pods for a pair of best-of-seven baker matches in bracket play. As the eighth seed entering the bracket, Valpo was matched up with host #22 Maryville in its first bracket match. Maryville would defeat Valpo, 4-2, as the Saints broke 200 in each of their four wins, including three efforts of 233 or better.
• Valpo fell into a battle with Lewis for seventh place, but the match proved to be all Valpo. The Brown and Gold opened the match up with a 255 in the opening game, and followed with efforts of 190, 212 and 222 to earn the 4-0 sweep and claim seventh place.
• Valpo averaged a 219.8 in the four-game victory over Lewis to break the program’s previous record for average score in a best-of-seven baker match. The previous mark of 217.8 against Sam Houston State had been established back in October of 2011.

Next Up

Valpo (32-44) returns to competition the first weekend of March, heading to Lincoln, Neb. to compete in the Big Red Invitational. The three-day event begins Friday, March 1.