Dear Commodore Nation,
Please join us in congratulating head coach John Williamson and the bowling team on advancing to the semifinals of the National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship. After a strong performance in the Lansing regional, the Commodores earned an opportunity to bowl in the Final Four in Columbus, Ohio. They begin the double-elimination event against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday, April 15.
Vanderbilt bowling continues to set a standard of excellence that makes competing for championships a familiar feature of the April landscape. This season marks the ninth time that Vanderbilt, which won national championships in 2007 and 2018, will finish among the nation’s top four. Such consistent success is the product of student-athletes who embrace a standard and dare to push it forward still further.
From the outset this past fall, Coach Williamson challenged himself, his staff and our student-athletes to take the next step in their development. Together, led by many of the student-athletes who came within a few pins of advancing to the Final Four a season ago, a young team grew, achieved and met those goals. They demonstrated their potential when they won the Dezy Classic in October. They built on success with titles in the Northeast Classic and Stallings Invitational in the new year and carried their momentum into the postseason.
In March, Vanderbilt won the Southland Bowling League Championship for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in the seven seasons in which the tournament was held. This past week, the Commodores advanced through their regional without losing a match.
They knew what they could achieve if they put in the work. You continue to show them with your support that we are Vandy United.
We encourage all of those in Commodore Nation who are able to represent the black and gold in Columbus this weekend. And we know that whether in the stands or watching together in Nashville or around the country, students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters will gather to support these student-athletes when they compete for a championship.
Early rounds of the Final Four will be streamed live on NCAA.com, with a full schedule available here. The best-of-seven final will be broadcast on ESPNU at 7 p.m. CT. Saturday.
The Commodores are rolling again in April.
Anchor Down!
Daniel Diermeier
Chancellor
Candice Lee
Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director