NEW CASTLE, Del. — The No. 24 Jennies Bowling team closed competition at the 2026 Northeast Classic on Sunday, Jan. 18, finishing the day 1–2 and concluding the weekend with an 8–5 overall record to place 24th in a highly competitive national field, highlighting their position among top college bowling programs.

Sunday's action began with a hard-fought 4–3 victory over (RV) Maryland Eastern Shore, as the Jennies rallied from a 1–3 deficit to secure the win. Central Missouri then dropped a narrow 4.5–3.5 decision to No. 23 Kutztown University, falling in the tiebreaker after also trailing 1–3. The Jennies closed the tournament with a second matchup against (RV) Maryland Eastern Shore, but came up short in a 4–3 loss after leading 3–1.

Central Missouri finished 24th overall in a field that featured the top 14 teams in the country and 25 of the top 30 nationally. No. 1 Jacksonville State University defeated No. 2 Vanderbilt University in the competition.

"The weekend was a great learning opportunity for our young team to compete against the nation's best," head coach Ron Holmes said. "As expected, the competition schedule was robust, and 10 of our 13 matches were against teams ranked in the top 30 in the country.

As challenging as our match rotation was, our 8–5 record was inconsistent with the team's work and recent efforts to start the semester. Our ability to repeat shots was erratic, and the spare shooting was very up-and-down during pool play, something we have not shown this year.

This tournament was the most surprising effort of 2025–26, but the ladies recognized their efforts were below standards and are motivated to improve and get back on track before upcoming competitions. They're eager to work hard and grow stronger.

Over the three-day event, the Jennies recorded wins over (RV) William Smith College, (RV) Felician University, Roberts Wesleyan College, Morgan State University, Long Island University, Adelphi University, No. 20 Bryant University, and (RV) Maryland Eastern Shore.

Central Missouri returns to action Jan. 24–25 at the AU Eagle Classic in Lee's Summit, Missouri.