SMYRNA, Tenn. - The Firebirds women's bowling team was one of 30 teams in an exceptionally-stacked field at Vanderbilt's Music City Classic this weekend. The field featured 14 of the nation's top 25 ranked teams according to the National Tenpin Coaches Association, including nine of the top ten. 

Carthage went 2-3 on day one in five baker matches before winning three out of five traditional matches on day two. Following the first two days of competition, Carthage was seeded as the No. 18 team in the championship bracket on Sunday. The Firebirds won two out of three best-of-seven baker matches in the bracketed portion of the classic to climb the overall standings, finishing in 17th place. 



 

• Result: 17th place out of 30 teams. 
• Location: Smyrna, Tennessee - Hosted by Vanderbilt University. 

  
Day One:

• Carthage fell in its first two baker matches on day one, losing to No. 12 Louisiana Tech 820-993 and to No. 9 Sam Houston 927-935. The Firebirds rebounded in its next two matches, defeating UAB by 35 pins and Lewis by four pins. In the team's final match of day one, Carthage generated its lowest pinfall of the day in an 867-1,022 loss to No. 10 Maryland Eastern Shore. 

Day Two: 

• Day two of the Music City Classic started off with a pair of traditional matches against Wright State University, both of which were won by the Firebirds. Carthage wiped out 993 pins in their second match against Wright State heading into a tightly-contested battle with Kentucky Wesleyan College. The Firebirds were edged out by just three pins in a tough loss to the Panthers. Carthage lost its next match to No. 8 Maryville before closing out the day with a sound victory over Saint Francis University - winning 960-902. 

Day Three:

• Seeded as the No. 18 in the Sunday championship bracket, the Firebirds faced off with Monmouth University in a best-of-seven baker match in the opening round. Though the team was more productive in games three and four, Monmouth swept the Firebirds, sending Carthage to a second-round rematch with Saint Francis. Coach Zwiefelhofer's team won 4-2 to move back up in the bracket, setting up another rematch - this time with Monmouth. 
• The Firebirds defeated Monmouth 4-2 to move up one position in the standings from its ranking at the start of the day, jumping from 18 to 17 in the standings. 

 

• 1. No. 9 Sam Houston State University - 13,474
• 2. No. 1 McKendree University - 12,105
• 3. No. 2 Vanderbilt University - 14,468
• 4. No. 12 Louisiana Tech University - 14,315
• 5. No. 7 North Carolina A&T State University - 14,039
• 17. Carthage College - 11,778

​​​​​​

 

• During the classic's traditional matches, Carthage was led by ascending-sophomore Jessica Rosa. Rosa, from Mount Prospect, Illinois, knocked down over 1,000 pins (1,008) to pace the Firebirds. 
• Caitlin Powers finished just one spot and four pins behind Rosa, taking 35th individually (1,004 pins). 

 

• Carthage returns to the Midwest for a chance to win its first CCIW Women's Bowling Tournament Championship in program history. The tournament will take place in DeKalb, Illinois from Saturday, March 25 through Sunday, March 26.