The #19 Valpo bowling team sits atop the team standings after the first of two days of action at the Viking Classic in Bettendorf, Iowa, as the Beacons broke 1000 and won in each of their final four matches of the day.
 
How It Happened

• Valpo opened the day's action, contested in the traditional team format, against Quincy, falling to the Hawks by an 862-793 final. Head coach John Martin said "I flat out didn't do a good job of seeing the picture in the first match – that led to too many splits and I was slow to catch up. I really put the whole team in a bad spot. I'm glad it got better, but just not a very good job by me out of the gate."
• Things turned around quickly for the Beacons, as they earned a 1078-824 win over Lewis in the second match slot — tied for the seventh-best traditional team match score in program history. Angela Webber (Harvest, Ala./Sparkman) led the way with a 245, just two pins off her career best, while Mia Kottke (Niles, Ill./Resurrection) matched her career high with a 233 and Jen Patz (Naples, Fla./Naples) posted a 213.
• Valpo followed with a 1010-962 victory over #23 Central Missouri. Payton Rowley (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) paced the Beacons in that win with a 222, while Webber and Alexis Wooley (Fort White, Fla./Fort White) recorded matching 214 games.
• Rowley led Valpo for a second straight match in the fourth match slot as she rolled a 247, while Alyssa Marlowe (Fort White, Fla./Fort White [Mount St. Mary's]) registered a 203 in a 1009-970 win over #RV Carroll.
• Valpo made it four straight wins to close the day with a 1000-819 triumph over Carthage in the day's finale. Patz rolled a team-best 229 in that win, while Kottke posted a 224 and Rowley a 214.
• Valpo's lone bowler to start all five matches Saturday, Patz ranked second in the individual standings with a 198.8 average. Rowley (207.0) and Webber (202.3) both averaged better than 200 while starting four matches, while Kottke (208.7) did so in her three starts.
• The Beacons closed the day with 4,890 pins to top the nine-team field, as they were over 300 pins clear of second-place Carroll.

 
Next Up
Valpo (46-35) closes out the Viking Classic on Sunday.