GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University women's bowling team will open its third collegiate campaign this weekend as the Pioneers travel to Fairview Heights, Illinois for the Bearcat Hammer Open.

The Pioneers and head coach Shawn Flanary return five letter-winners from last year's COVID-shortened 20-26 squad which finished eighth at the Intercollegiate Team Championship (ITC) sectional qualifier. Of their 20 wins, seven came against nationally-ranked opposition.

After competing in its first two seasons in the East Coast Conference, the Tusculum women, along with the TU men, have joined Conference Carolinas as an associate member. The Tusculum women were picked second in the league's inaugural poll earlier this month.

Tusculum also enters this year as the 11^th-ranked team in the country according to the preseason National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Division II/III Poll.

The veteran corps includes senior Erin Burkhart (Marerro, La.) along with the trio of Abbygale Hunt (Savannah, Tenn.), Alexa Tieto (Ocean, N.J.) and Samantha England (White Bluff, Tenn.), and sophomore Hayli Stewart (Lebanon, Tenn.).

Burkart was listed as a Conference Carolinas Player to Watch. She posted a season-best 10^th-place finish at last year's Railsplitter Classic and also finished 29^th at the Columbia 300 Open.

Hunt recorded three finishes in the top-30 including an 18^th place showing at the Railsplitter Classic and finished 25^th at the Stallings Invitational.

Tieto accounted for three finishes in the top-40 last spring including a 13^th place effort at the Stallings Invitational, while also finished 14^th at the Railsplitter Classic and 39^th at the Columbia 300.

Tusculum will also be looking to get contributions from the rookie trio of Shayna Long (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.), Savannah Price (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Allison Robbins (Flint, Mich.). Robbins was also listed as Conference Carolinas Player to Watch.

THE SCHEDULE

This weekend's Bearcat Hammer Open will begin an eight-event schedule culminating with the inaugural Conference Carolinas-Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament.

Following this weekend, the Pioneers will travel to Dyer, Indiana for the Valparaiso Classic (Oct. 29-31). TU will close out the pre-holiday schedule with the Hornet Classic (Nov. 19-21) in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Columbia 300 Saints Invitational, hosted by Maryville University, will be held Jan. 28-30, 2022 in Valley Park, Missouri.  Tusculum stays close to home Feb. 4-6 for the Railsplitter Classic in Harrogate.

Trips to the Stallings Invitational (Feb. 25-27) in Greensboro, North Carolina and the Columbia 300 Music City Invitational (Mar. 18-20) in Smyrna will proceed the conference championship which will include Conference Carolinas and the GMAC on Mar. 25-27 and held in Gastonia, North Carolina.

2021-2022 Tusculum Women's Bowling Schedule