Bulanova Crowned NTCA Player of the Year, Hernandez Voted Rookie of the Year
WICKLIFFE, Ohio – Vanderbilt’s Maria Bulanova was named the Division I Player of the Year, while Sam Houston State’s Bea Hernandez earned Rookie of the Year honors, the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) announced Wednesday. The Southland Bowling League was represented well on the All-America Teams as 12 student-athletes landed among the NTCA squads.
Along with her Player of the Year honor, Bulanova was named a First Team All-America selection after leading the Vanderbilt squad to a No. 1 overall seed heading into the 2019 NCAA Bowling Championship. The junior was also named the 2019 Southland Bowler of the Year after dealing a league-best 754 strikes.
Bulanova is joined on the first team by Stephen F. Austin’s Dakotah Hazlewood, who stands fourth in the nation for overall and traditional average. Hazlewood also ranks sixth nationally for strikes and Baker Average and helped push her Ladyjack squad to an opening round win over Texas A&M Prairie View at Emerald Bowl in Houston, Texas (April 5).
In addition to being named the NTCA Rookie of the Year, Sam Houston State’s Hernandez was also tabbed a Second Team All-America honoree. She led her Bearkat squad to its first-ever Southland Bowling League title after a perfect 4-0 sweep through the Southland Bowling Tournament. The SHSU freshman ranks 10th in the nation with a 91.40 Player Composite Performance Index (PCPI) rating.
The NTCA third team includes Kaitlyn Eder (Louisiana Tech), Julia Huren (Arkansas State), Samantha Gainor (Vanderbilt) and Adel Wahner (Vanderbilt).
Paige Beeney (Stephen F. Austin), Taylor Davis (Arkansas State), Leah Glazer (Arkansas State), Tiera Gulum (Tulane) and Denishya Waller (Arkansas State) all earned Honorable Mention accolades.
The opening round of the 2019 NCAA Bowling Championship begins at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 11 at RollHouse Wickliffe in Wickliffe, Ohio. The Southland Bowling League has four contenders vying for the national title. No. 1 Vanderbilt is slated to face Sacred Heart in match one.
Arkansas State will take on Nebraska in match two at 9 a.m. Rounding out the Southland Bowling League competitors will be Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin who will face off in match three.
Arkansas State and Stephen F. Austin earned a spot on the lanes in Wickliffe after opening round victories. The Red Wolves swept Medaille College on April 9 in Traditional and Baker Total Pinfall matches.
2018-19 NTCA All-Americans
First Team
Maria Bulanova, Vanderbilt
Breanna Clemmer, McKendree
Dakotah Hazlewood, Stephen F. Austin
Raquel Orozco, Nebraska
Meghan Straub, Nebraska
Second Team
Taylor Bailey, McKendree
Olivia Farwell, Duquesne
Bea Hernandez, Sam Houston State
Emma Kuhn, Wisconsin Whitewater
Lauren Pate, McKendree
Third Team
Kaitlyn Eder, Louisiana Tech
Samantha Gainor, Vanderbilt
Hope Gramly, McKendree
Julia Huren, Arkansas State
Adel Wahner, Vanderbilt
Honorable Mention
Paige Beeney, Stephen F. Austin
Taylor Davis, Arkansas State
Katey Furze, Central Missouri
Leah Glazer, Arkansas State
Tiera Gulum, Tulane
Cayla Hicks, Maryland Eastern Shore
Emily Notebaret, Roberts Wesleyan
Allison Morris, Nebraska
Ana Sofia Olaya, North Carolina A&T
Denishya Waller, Arkansas State
Player of the Year
Division I: Maria Bulanova, Vanderbilt
Division II/III: Breanna Clemmer, McKendree
Rookie of the Year
Division I: Bea Hernandez, Sam Houston State
Division II/III: Hope Gramly, McKendree
Coach of the Year
Division I: John Williamson, Vanderbilt
Division II/III: Shannon O’Keefe McKendree
TEAM CATEGORIES
Win-Loss Percentage: Vanderbilt, 74.00% (94-33)
Baker Double %: Sam Houston State, 48.10%
Strike %: Vanderbilt, 48.10%
Traditional Frame Average: Nebraska, 20.27
Baker Frame Average: Vanderbilt, 20.24
Single-Pin Spare Conversion %: Vanderbilt, 92.70%
Spare %: Vanderbilt, 73.50%
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
Baker Frame Average: Maria Bulanova, Vanderbilt, 21.30
Traditional Frame Average: Megan Straub, Nebraska, 21.24
Strike %: Megan Straub, Nebraska, 55.00%
Baker Double %: Megan Straub, Nebraska, 60.90%
Single-Pin Conversion %: Alexis Neur, Delaware State, 96.40%
Overall Spare Conversion %: Cayla Hicks, Maryland Eastern Shore, 76.80%