Published: April 18, 2008 02:02 pm         

Lady Eagle bowlers take aim at the National title

MOREHEAD, Ky.---Morehead State University will be represented by its women’s bowling teams during the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships, which is set for April 16-19 at Northrock Lanes in Wichita, Kan.

A total of 16 women’s and 16 men’s teams will compete in the event. Teams were selected to participate based on the top qualifiers at each of the four sectionals.

The MSU women took top honors in 1989, 1998, 2000 and 2002, were runner-ups in 1993 and third place in 2006.

The Sectional Qualifier competitions were held March 15-16. The top four in the men's and women's divisions at each sectional advanced to championships.

Qualifiers from the women's division, which features five former champions and 12 returning teams from 2005, include sectional champions Fresno State, Central Florida, Lindenwood and Wichita State, the defending national champion.

In the women's division, Wichita State, which defeated McKendree for its eighth national title last season, won the Fairview Heights Sectional to advance for the 27th straight year dating back to 1982 and a record 33rd appearance.

Other qualifiers from the women's division, which features four former champions and 10 returning teams from 2007, include sectional champions Central Florida, Lindenwood and Pikeville. Joining them will be Bellarmine, Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.), Florida State, Fresno State, Martin Methodist, Maryland-Eastern Shore, McKendree, Newman, Purdue, Robert Morris College (Ill.) and Shippensburg.

The MSU women’s team consists of: Stephanie Brownie, Chester, Va., senior; Megan Buress, Louisville sophomore; Amy Corbin, Cincinnati senior; Deirdre Criddell, Huber Heights, Ohio, sophomore; Kami Ebersole, Eldorado, Ohio, sophomore;  Tiffany Murray, Cincinnati sophomore; Annie Orobono, Jackson, N.J., freshman; Michelle Snyder, Alamogordo, N.M., freshman; and Lauren Swanson, Freeport, N.Y., senior; and Megan Williamson, Cynthiana freshman.

Seven schools qualified both their men's and women's teams from sectionals, which consisted of 32 Baker System games each day for a total of 64 Baker games.

The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season. The tournament brings together the top 16 men's and women's teams in the country to compete for national titles on national television (CBS College Sports Network).

Morehead State's Amy Corbin also qualified for a spot at the 2008 USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships, which will be held May 19-20 at Olympic Lanes in Milwaukee.

During the tournament, additional information will be available on the www.Bowl.com. Web site.