ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Carroll University women's bowling team completed its second tournament of the season over the weekend, finishing eighth at the 2026 UWW Warhawk Classic, hosted by Wisconsin-Whitewater from Oct. 23-25 in Rockford, Illinois.
Carroll put together a 3-7 record across the qualifying portion of the tournament, finishing with 9,434 total pins and a 171.5 average per game before ultimately taking eighth in Sunday's championship bracket. The Pioneers' qualifying total included 5,069 pins in Baker competition and 4,365 during five traditional matches.
The Pioneers opened the tournament Friday with five Baker matches. Carroll started the weekend on a high note, defeating Alabama A&M 886-778 in its opening match. The Pios followed with scores of 768, 811, 915 and 838 over the remainder of the opening-day slate. Their 915 against Wisconsin-Whitewater represented their best Baker match of the qualifying rounds.
Saturday shifted the tournament into traditional play, with Carroll recording team games of 875, 873, 928, 927 and 762. The Pioneers' strongest stretch came in the middle of the day, posting back-to-back scores of 928 and 927. Carroll finished the qualifying portion with a five-game traditional total of 4,365.
Several Pioneers contributed individually during traditional competition. Natalie Hirsch had the strongest 5-game series bowling a combined 938 with a high of 206, which was good enough for 9th place individually. Samantha Scorintino also recorded a very strong series, totatling a 937 with a high of 211 to finish right behind Hirsch in 10th place. Ava Butt added games of 154, 189, 168, 155, and 160, while Miley Brooks had scores of 146, 157, 180, 169, and 173. Autumn Vodicka contributed scores of 189 and 147, while Kailyn Davis entered the lineup with a 189, 187, and 127 in the final three games of the series.
Carroll entered Sunday's championship bracket seeded eighth and met fifth-seeded Lewis in the opening round. The Pioneers opened with a 202 and followed with games of 177, 124, 152 and 144. Carroll then faced seventh-seeded Quincy in the placement round, where the Pios responded with a stronger series of 198, 195, 167, 167, 181 and 196 before finishing the weekend in eighth place.
The tournament continued Carroll's early-season slate against a field that included Newman, McKendree, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Marian, Lewis, Valparaiso, Quincy, Western Illinois, Saint Anselm and Alabama A&M. Newman ultimately captured the tournament championship, with Wisconsin-Whitewater placing second and Marian third.
The Pioneers now turn their attention to the Windy City Halloween Classic next weekend in Des Plaines, IL, which will take place from Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at River Land Bowl.
