STRUTHERS, Ohio. (10/19/25) – The sixth-ranked Arkansas State women's bowling team opened the 2025-26 season with a runner-up finish at the Penguin Classic hosted by Youngstown State.
Entering the bracket fourth in pinfall, A-State defeated No. 3 Vanderbilt 4-2 and No. 1 Jacksonville State 4-2 to meet No. 2 Nebraska for the title. Despite trailing 3-1 through four games, the Red Wolves forced a decisive game seven, but fell to Nebraska 4-3 to finish runner-up.
A-State (11-2) opened the day against Vanderbilt and took the first game of the best-of-seven 170-160. Vanderbilt took game two, 215-212, but A-State grabbed a 3-1 lead taking game three (242-178) and four (204-155). Vanderbilt narrowly won game five, 217-213, to force a game six, but A-State clinched the match by a tally of 181-159.
Facing top-ranked Jacksonville State for a spot in the championship, A-State got out a 2-0 lead with 263-196 and 226-216 margins. Jax State took game three 269-223, but the Red Wolves gained a 3-1 advantage with a 212-195 tally in game four. Jax State answered by taking game five 228-176, but A-State closed out the match winning game six 225-213.
A-State fell by four pins, 196-192, in game one to Nebraska, but evened the series with a 222-183 total in game two. Nebraska took the next two games, 223-216 and 183-177, to lead 3-1, but the Red Wolves responded with wins in game five (226-212) and six (224-190) to force game seven. Nebraska closed out the victory with a 255-186 tally in the final game to win the title.
Karli VanDuinen and Alex-Anne Auclair were named to the All-Tournament Team following their individual performances. VanDuinen led the field with 1,259 pins while Auclair was sixth with 1,110.
A-State returns to action next week at the Destination Orlando event hosted by Sacred Heart Oct. 24-26.
Penguin Classic
5-Game Baker Total Pinfall
vs Coppin State – 935-888, W
vs Alabama A&M – 897-811, W
vs #2 Nebraska – 990-1,059, L
vs #25 Niagara – 1,002-938, W
vs Walsh – 1,011-747, W
Traditional Games
vs Lewis 979-932
vs #21 Valparaiso 1,073-1,014
vs #12 Duquesne 1,141-990
vs #3 Vanderbilt 1,160-1,027
vs #11 Sacred Heart 1,144-949
Individual Standings
1 Karli VanDuinen 279-227-238-278-237=1,259
6 Alex-Anne Auclair 179-231-202-247-246=1,110
8 Maggie Thoma 178-190-243-245-242=1,098
21 Kaylee Back 175-190-235-179-227=1,006
53 Amanda Lang X-235-223-211-192=861
119 Katie Ruszczak 168-X-X-X-X=168
Bracket Matches
vs #3 Vanderbilt – 4-2, W (170-160, 212-215, 242-178, 204-15, 213-217, 181-159)
vs #1 Jacksonville State – 4-2, W (263-196, 226-216, 223-269, 212-195, 176-228, 225-213)
vs #2 Nebraska – 3-4, L (192-196, 222-183, 216-223, 177-183, 226-212, 224-190, 186-255)
