With sights set on the program’s fourth national title, No. 2 Vanderbilt Bowling traveled to Parma Heights, Ohio, to compete in the NCAA Final Four. Despite a strong showing against Arkansas State to start the tournament, the Commodores fell in consecutive matches to Jacksonville State and Wichita State, ending their season in heartbreaking fashion.
“I thank Alyssa [Ballard] and Victoria [Varano] and all the alumni who came through the program,” head coach John Williamson said in his final press conference as the head coach of Vanderbilt Bowling.
Day 1
Vanderbilt kicked off the weekend with a comfortable 1,018-910 win over No. 3 Arkansas State in traditional-match play. Victoria Varano led the way with a team-high 248 game, while Katelyn Abigania tacked on 228 pins of her own. Avery Domaguin and Natalie Kent added scores of 202 and 201, respectively. The Red Wolves’ 267-224 win in the first game of the ensuing Baker set was not enough to stop the surging Black and Gold, who shot 276, 232, 233 and 203 over the next four games to clinch the Baker point and win the mega-match.
Vanderbilt then faced top-seeded Jacksonville State for a fiery traditional match in which all five ’Dores scored over 200 pins. Domaguin struck the first seven frames en route to a 252 game, while Kent contributed a 231 and Abigania notched 223 pins. Alyssa Ballard and Varano recorded 202 and 209 games, respectively. Despite such high scores, the Gamecocks secured the narrow victory, 1,139-1,119. With momentum on its side, Jacksonville State cruised to a 1,188-981 win in the following Baker series.
“I felt like we had opportunities in the traditional game [against] Jacksonville State,” Williamson said. “It was well-played by both teams; we just had a couple more errant shots.”
Day 2
With their season on the line, the Black and Gold came out swinging in their traditional match against Wichita State. Domaguin led the team with a 260 game, while Sydney Bohn, Abigania and Ballard posted scores of 222, 220 and 216, respectively. Varano and Kent combined for a 189 game to help secure the traditional point, 1,106-1,027. The Shockers then rallied to take the Baker set, 1,037-992, forcing a best-of-seven tiebreaker.
Vanderbilt secured the first game in the tiebreaking Baker series, 225-212. Wichita State then narrowly won the next three games, 225-224, 247-235 and 256-244, to take a 3-1 advantage. Despite rallying in Game 5 with a 274-200 win, the Commodores dropped Game 6, 269-207, to end their season.
“I thought we kept applying pressure and making shots in the best-of-seven [against Wichita State], but ultimately, they kept making shots, too,” Williamson said. “If we had a couple more breaks and made a couple more shots, we could have won that match 4-1 instead of losing 4-2. But that’s sports and that’s life. I think the future is bright for the group coming back, so I’m excited to watch.”
Williamson will officially leave his position as head coach now, but he led Vanderbilt to historic heights in his 22 years at the helm of the program, including three national titles in those years. Josie Barnes, a Vanderbilt Hall of Famer and two-time PWBA major winner, will now take over the program for the 2026-27 season, hoping to extend the success that Williamson built on West End.
