Valpo bowling senior Lilu Smith (Gahanna, Ohio/Lincoln) had one of the top single-day performances of her career Saturday, posting a 222 average over five matches to earn Second Team All-Tournament honors as she led the Beacons on the second day of action at the Northeast Classic in New Castle, Del.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo opened Saturday's competition, contested in the traditional team format, against #22 Delaware State. Despite a 224 game from Maia Struble (Anchorage, Alaska/Dimond), the Beacons dropped a 964-949 decision in the opener.
• Valpo faced off with the nation's top-ranked team in the second match slot, falling 1070-960 to #1 Vanderbilt. Smith paced the Beacons in that match with a 222, while Struble broke 200 for a second straight match with a 215 game.
• Smith enjoyed her best game of the day in the third match slot, rolling a 266 in a 1066-989 loss versus #6 Stephen F. Austin. The 266 was just one pin off her collegiate best and just two pins shy of the program's single-match top-10 chart. Jen Patz (Naples, Fla./Naples) broke 200 as well in that contest with a 202.
• Smith rolled a team-best 225 to lead the way and Struble posted a 212 as Valpo earned its first win of the day in the fourth match slot, besting Howard, 1011-827.
• A trio of Beacons broke the 200 barrier as they ended the day with a 1010-930 victory over Merrimack. Struble had her best score of the day with a 225, Smith ended the day by posting a 209 and Payton Rowley (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) added a 207.
• Smith's 222 average was good for ninth-best at the largest tournament in NCAA bowling history, a field which saw 130 bowlers start all five traditional team matches. Her Second Team All-Tournament honor is the fourth All-Tournament accolade of her career.
• Struble enjoyed a strong day as well, placing inside the top-25 with her 213.6 average.
• As a team, Valpo closed the day in 17^th place out of the 38 competing teams, with a total pinfall of 9,664 pins.

 
Next Up
Valpo (22-24) closes out tournament play on Sunday morning, beginning at 7:25 a.m. CT.