MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 17 Louisiana Tech bowling team posted a second-place finish over the weekend at the Hornet Classic (hosted by Alabama State), while sophomore Kaitlyn Eder was named tournament MVP after leading all bowlers with an average of 214.6.

"This weekend was a roller coaster of emotions," head coach Matt Nantais remarked. "We would have a few matches we couldn't do anything wrong and then a match where we couldn't do anything right.  On the other hand, the team really pulled together with different members stepping up at different times.  They fought until the end of each match today and I was proud of how they represented Louisiana Tech.  We have a bright future.   Halfway through the season we are  only 16 wins from our total for last year. This next month will be good for the team to rest up before we start again in January."
 
LA Tech, as it has consistently done throughout the young season, dominated on the opening day of action, recording a 5-0 record in Friday's baker matches. The Techsters posted victories over Alabama A&M (1015-641), Alabama State (906-844), Grambling (997-594), Southern (943-838) and Jackson State (915-866).
 
Eder, who wrapped up one of her best tournaments of the season, fueled a strong effort from up and down the Tech lineup, as the sophomore raced out of the gates with 16 consecutive strikes to begin the weekend.
 
After the first day of action, Tech found itself in second place, just behind No. 16 UAB in total pinfall. The Techsters were the only undefeated team after Friday's action and posted the second-highest pinfall at 4,776 total pins.
 
In Saturday's traditional team-match format of the competition, Tech kept up its solid play, recording a 4-1 record on the day. The Techsters earned triumphs over Florida A&M (941-856), No. 16 UAB (999-970), Alabama A&M (956-729) and Grambling (968-647). Tech's only defeat of the day came in the fourth match of the afternoon, a 983-886 decision to the host Hornets.
 
In the team action, Eder paced all bowlers, but the rest of the Techsters were just as instrumental in the teams' success. Freshman Emily Rettig (12^th-192.00), sophomore Ashley Channell (12^th-192.00), freshman Lindsay Manning (16^th-186.4), senior Kendall Hickman (33^rd-170.3) and freshman Sara Howell (44^th-144.0) rounded out the Techsters' individual rankings.
 
With a 9-1 overall record after the first two days of competition, the Techsters were seeded as the no. 2 team heading into Sunday's bracket action with a total pinfall of 9526.
 
With a chance at a third championship crown this season, Tech began bracket action with a nail-biting 4-3 defeat to the no. 1 seeded UAB Blazers. The Techsters raced out to an early three-games to none lead behind wins of 176-167, 202-191 and 215-214. However, the Blazers came charging back, and posted wins in each of the final four games (202-192, 210-195, 219-155, 200-199) to take the first-round matchup in seven.
 
Despite the defeat, Tech rebounded nicely and captured a 4-3 win over Alabama State and jumped back into the championship matchup in a rematch with the Blazers. Against the Hornets, Tech trailed three games to one, but rattled off three straight wins (234-200, 228-196, 185-175) to take the matchup.
 
In the championship match with UAB, the Blazers and Techsters once again needed all seven games to determine a champion. Tech took a quick 2-0 lead behind wins of 182-149 and 167-154, before UAB staked wins in each of the next three games, taking a 3-2 lead (186-137, 203-172, 204-170). Needing game six to force a seventh and deciding game, Tech came up clutch, delivering a narrow 202-196 win, evening the matchup at three and forcing a seventh game. The two teams were again separated by razor-thin margins in the winner-take-all game, but UAB escaped with a 190-186 triumph.
 
The Techsters' second-place finish is the third top-two finish for the team this season.
 
Tech will take some time off, as the fall portion of the schedule has concluded, and the team will return to action on January 11-13 at the Mid-Winter Invitational, hosted by No. 5 Arkansas State, to open the new year.
 
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