Sectional field announced for 2009 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships

2/24/2009

By Gene J. Kanak
USBC Communications

USBC Collegiate has determined sectional-qualifying assignments for the 2009 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships. Now, the nation's top men's and women's collegiate bowling teams can begin charting their courses toward the 2009 national title.

The four sectional qualifiers will be held March 14-15 at AMF Parkway Lanes in Allentown, Pa.; Holiday Bowl-Brainerd in Chattanooga, Tenn.; St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights, Ill., and the South Point Hotel and Casino Bowling Center in Las Vegas. The top four teams in each division at each sectional will advance to the 2009 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships, which will be held April 15-18 at Cherry Bowl in Rockford, Ill.

On the men's side, Wichita State University, the No. 1 program in Team Ranking System points, will compete in the Fairview Heights Sectional. No. 2 Saginaw Valley State and No. 4 Central Florida will headline the field at the Chattanooga Sectional. No. 3 Rochester Institute of Technology will head to the Allentown Sectional, making No. 5 Lindenwood the lone top-five team at the Las Vegas Sectional.

In women's competition, No. 1 Central Florida, which is coming off a victory at the 2009 Backhaul Direct Hoosier Classic, will be the featured team at the Chattanooga Sectional. No. 2 Wichita State will head to the Fairview Heights Sectional while No. 3 McKendree and No. 5 Lindenwood will compete in the Las Vegas Sectional. No. 4 Pikeville College, the defending women's national champion, will participate in the Allentown Sectional.

The complete men's and women's 2009 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships Sectional Qualifier field (teams listed in alphabetical order):

MEN

Allentown Sectional
Briarcliffe, Erie Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Penn State-Berks, Penn State, Pikeville, Robert Morris University (Pa.), Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart, Schenectady County Community College, Shippensburg, St. John's, SUNY Institute of Technology, Webber International, Western New England, William Paterson, Youngstown State

Chattanooga Sectional
Bellarmine, Central Florida, Davenport, Ferris State, Florida State, Grand Valley State, Louisiana State, Louisville, Michigan, Morehead State, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Purdue, Robert Morris College (Ill.), Saginaw Valley State, Vincennes

Fairview Heights Sectional
Calumet College of St. Joseph, Central Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan State, Minnesota State-Mankato, Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska-Omaha, Newman, Northern Illinois, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, Western Illinois, Wichita State, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wright State

Las Vegas Sectional
Arizona State, California Polytech Institute, Fresno State, Houston, Lindenwood, Martin Methodist, McKendree, North Dakota State, North Texas, San Jose State, UC-Davis, UNLV, Washington State, Weber State, West Texas A&M

WOMEN

Allentown Sectional
Briarcliffe, Erie Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Medaille, Mohawk Valley Community College, Penn State-Berks, Penn State, Pikeville, SUNY Institute of Technology, Westchester Community College, Youngstown State

Chattanooga Sectional
Adrian College, Ball State, Bellarmine, Central Florida, Davenport, Florida State, Grambling State, Grand Valley State, Ohio State, Purdue, Robert Morris College (Ill.), South Florida, Southern University

Fairview Heights Sectional
Calumet College of St. Joseph, Elmhurst College, Illinois State, Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska-Omaha, Newman, South Dakota State, Western Illinois, Wichita State, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wisconsin-Platteville, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Wright State

Las Vegas Sectional
Fresno State, Houston, Lindenwood, Martin Methodist, McKendree, San Jose State, UC-Davis, West Texas A&M

Sectional assignments are based on the Team Ranking System points earned in USBC Collegiate-certified competition throughout the season. USBC Collegiate attempts to place no more than two of the top eight schools and no more than four of the top 16 schools in a sectional based on final TRS totals. Sectional Qualifier fields are determined by taking geographic distance, economics and field size into consideration.

The sectionals will consist of 32 Baker System games each day for a total of 64 Baker games. The top four teams based on total pinfall in each division following the completion of competition at each sectional will advance to the 2009 USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships.

In addition, these four locations will host qualifying for the 2009 USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships on March 13. All participants will bowl six games with total pinfall determining final standings. The top four finishers in each division (men and women) at each Sectional Qualifier advance to the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships, scheduled for May 17-19 at AMF Euless Lanes in Euless, Texas.