The #RV Valpo bowling team posted two of its top single-match efforts in program history in consecutive matches on Saturday, while sophomore Lilu Smith (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) narrowly missed cracking the Beacons’ individual single-game top-10 chart as Valpo continued competition at the Big Red Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

How It Happened

• Valpo opened action on Saturday, contested in the traditional team format, against #20 UW-Whitewater, falling by an 1135-954 final. Senior Noelle Doody (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) led the Beacons with a 213 game in the opening match, while sophomore Alli Eible (Burton, Mich./Kearsley) posted a 204.
• All five Valpo bowlers hit 200 or better in the second match of the day, a 1066-962 victory over #21 Lincoln Memorial. It was the ninth-highest traditional single-match score in program history and is the first time since March 19, 2022 the program has had all five bowlers in a traditional match post a game of 200-plus.
• Eible led the Beacons with a 232 game in the victory over LMU. Junior Isabella Palamaro (Thiells, N.Y./North Rockland) registered a 213 and Smith posted a 211. Rounding out the quintet was Doody with a 210 and freshman Jen Patz (Naples, Fla./Naples) with a 200.
• Four of the five repeated the feat in a 1089-1049 victory over Quincy in the third match slot, the fifth-highest traditional match score in program history. Eible led Valpo for the second straight victory with a 239 game, backed up by a 232 from Patz to match her career high. Smith rolled a 222 and Doody registered a 202.
• Doody and Eible both made it four straight matches cracking the 200 barrier with games of 213 and 211, respectively, in the next match slot, but it would not be enough for Valpo to take down the hosts, as #3 Nebraska picked up an 1123-961 win.
• Smith closed out the day with a bang, rolling a career-best 267 game which was just one pin shy of making Valpo’s single-game top-10 chart. Palamaro had a 227 as well in the day’s finale, as the Beacons suffered a 1072-1041 defeat against #4 Arkansas State.
• Valpo closed the day in seventh place in the team standings with 10,021 total pins, 133 behind Youngstown State for sixth place.

Next Up

Valpo (41-48) concludes the Big Red Invitational on Sunday morning with a pair of matches.