FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team returns to action this weekend as they travel to Fairview Heights, Illinois for the 2019 Hammer Bearcat Open, which will be held this Friday through Sunday at St. Clair Bowl and hosted by McKendree University.
The Pioneers are coming off an 11th place finish at last week's Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Invitational as TU played in its inaugural event and posted a 5-8 record including a perfect 3-0 mark on the final day.
This weekend's 17-team tournament field includes the Pioneers along with host McKendree who is the No. 2 ranked team in the country according to the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Poll as the Bearcats will be making their 2019-2020 season debut with their home event.
Similar to last weekend this weekend's field includes several nationally-ranked programs including No. 2 McKendree, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 10 Wisconsin-Whitewater, No. 12 Central Missouri, No. 18 Maryville (Mo.) and No. 19 UAB. Also competing are Alabama A&M, Augustana, Dominican (Ill.), Kentucky Wesleyan, Lewis (Ill.), North Central College, Prairie View A&M, St. Francis-Brooklyn, Upper Iowa and Valparaiso.
The Pioneers will open with five Baker format matches on Friday against Dominican, No. 12 Central Missouri, Lewis, Upper Iowa and Kentucky Wesleyan.
