The Valpo bowling team saw its 2022-23 season come to an end Friday afternoon at the Southland Bowling League Championship in Rowlett, Texas.

How It Happened

• As the eighth seed in the double-elimination event, Valpo opened the league tournament Friday morning against top-seeded #2 Vanderbilt. Each match featured a traditional team game, followed by a five-game baker set. If the two teams split those contests, a best-of-seven baker round decided the match.
• The Beacons dropped the traditional team game to the Commodores, 1046-834. Freshman Jen Patz (Naples, Fla./Naples) paced Valpo with a 199 game in the opener.
• Valpo broke 200 twice in the five-game baker match, but it wouldn’t be enough to take down the top seed, as Vanderbilt completed the 2-0 win with a 1080-929 decision.
• The loss dropped the Beacons into an elimination matchup against fourth-seeded #6 Youngstown State.
• The Penguins bested the Beacons in the traditional team game, 926-791.
• Valpo trailed YSU by 12 pins entering the final game of the five-game baker match, but topped the Penguins by 24 pins in the finale to close out an 886-874 win and force the decisive best-of-seven baker match.
• Valpo and YSU split the first two games of the best-of-seven contest, but the Penguins took each of the final three to earn the 4-1 victory and advance in the bracket.
• Friday marked the final collegiate competition for Valpo senior Noelle Doody (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew). Doody started 119 traditional team matches in her four-year career, leading Valpo in 27 matches and breaking 200 on 23 occasions — highlighted by a career-best 279 game during her junior season, tied for third-best in program history.