Dec. 7, 2009
RICHMOND, Va. - Bobby Henderson isn't one for moral victories.
However, FSU's bowling coach was encouraged after the Broncos' 4-7 record at the Jeannette Lee Invitational this past weekend.
"We played a total of 11 games and out of those we played nine nationally ranked teams," Henderson said. "I was happy considering who we played. We beat the No. 9 team in the country (Kutztown University) and the No. 10 team in the country (St. Francis College)."
All of FSU's (21-12, 12-0 CIAA) seven losses came to teams ranked in the top 20 of the National Tenpins Coaches Association December poll.
Jessica Collins, who finished 22nd, was the Broncos' top individual bowler with an average of 171.67. Clarrisse Bible finished 28th with an 164 while Jamie Donnelly was 40th with an average of 155.50.
"My younger players learned a lot," Henderson said. "It's not necessarily about the bowlers you play against, it's about the lane conditioning. We're still at a point where they're learning to adjust to various lane patterns. "
Henderson said his team, especially his freshman, might be intimidated by teams like the University of Central Missouri, Fairleigh Dickerson and Sacred Heart University. They are schools that not only have competed for, but won, NCAA titles.
"They look at the press book and see where you have All-American bowlers and that's what's getting to them," Henderson said. "But, they're bowling no better than us. It's just a matter of them gaining experience and as the season progresses I think they'll get better."
As a team, FSU had an 814.33 average pinfall and a total pinfall of 4,886. The Broncos were the highest finishing CIAA team and had the same number of wins (4) as the other conference schools combined.
"By playing this high level, it should make us far better when it comes to conference play," said Henderson. "We beat Elizabeth City State and that's big for us. They're likely to be our No. 1 nemesis when it comes to the CIAA Championship."
The Broncos will break for the semester before a Jan. 15 CIAA match at Livingstone College.
