SMYRNA, Tenn. (April 18, 2021) – The Mount St. Mary's bowling team will compete for their second national championship this season at the Intercollegiate Team Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan, May 3-8. The Mount qualified by virtue of placing second at the ITC sectional qualifier in Smyrna, Tenn.

Entering the day in third place, the Mount fell to the fourth and final qualifying spot with a tournament low 648 four game total to start. It was all up from there, however, as the Mount showed resiliency by answering with sets of 801, 718, 876, and 788 to jump all the way to second place, the highest they have been at any point during the weekend.

Junior Tamera Stanton continued her outstanding weekend for the Mount with a 20.28 baker frame average. Freshman Alyssa Alexander also had a great comeback performance with a 19.45 baker frame average after early struggles. Sophomore Amanda Yeung (18.97), junior Rebecca Dodson (18.51) and junior Kayla Durbala (18.46) all contributed in the scoring effort as well.

The Mount joined three other NCAA teams in qualifying for ITCs from their sectional with McKendree (1st), North Carolina A&T (3rd), and Maryville (4th). Those four teams will join 12 other national qualifiers from the three other sectionals that occurred this past weekend nationwide for the 16-team national championship bracket. Seeding will be determined by a total pinfall qualifying round on the first day of competition.

"To date, I would say this is the biggest day in our program's young history," said head coach Kenneth DeGraaf. "Opposed to our NCAA selection where a committee picked us, it felt much better knowing we were in control of our destiny. Our sport is very unique in that it holds two national championships each year between the USBC and NCAA. Some people might think the NCAA title is tougher, but the USBC side is no joke and just as hard to win. We are excited to take this group to compete for another shot at a national title."