STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The LIU bowling team went 3-2 in matches Friday at the Seahawk Invitational, finishing in second place in the tournament, just 10 pins behind first place Mount St. Mary's. Junior Francesca Rossi was named the Tournament MVP, with the highest individual average of the day, 206.33. Junior Nicole Lettich was named to the All-Tournament Team, as she finished in the top 5 individually as well, with a 186.33 average.
 
LIU opened the tournament with its biggest win of the day. The Sharks beat the No. 7 nationally ranked Mountaineers in a traditional match, 1042 to 948. LIU had three bowlers over 200, led by Kellie Frain's 239, along with Patricia Kelly's 213, and Rossi's 212.
 
The Sharks followed that up with a win over local rival Wagner, 907-831. Rossi led the Sharks in that match, bowling a 206, while Lettich had a 201. And Rossi led LIU in the next match as well, bowling a 201 to lead the Sharks against St. Thomas Aquinas, 910-700.
 
The last two matches of the day were five game baker matches, and LIU dropped both. The first match against #7 Mount St. Mary's saw the Mountaineers with the win, 984-896 (151-215, 165-163, 165-189, 203-183, 212-234). And LIU ended the day with a 995-917 loss to Wagner (226-194, 144-181, 213-235, 164-194, 170-191).
 
Up next, the Sharks take part in the first Northeast Conference meet of the season, February 19-21 in Mount Joy, Pa.