UCM senior Tina Peak opened the season with the hot hand, rolling a 228 and a 201 in match play to lead the Jennies to victory over Kansas Newman Friday. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- A busy opening weekend is off to a good start for the University of Central Missouri women’s bowling team. The Jennies picked up a pair of victories over Kansas Newman, winning a match play dual 2-0, then scoring a 16-game Baker match victory Friday at Cosmo Bowl.

UCM started strong in the match play portion, winning game one 945-919. Senior Tina Peak, bowling in the leadoff spot, led the way, rolling a 228.

Kim Wirth scored 187 while Jiovanna Bruce and newcomer Jamie Mitchell came in with 184 each.

The Jennies followed that up with a 935-860 victory to seal the match play win. Mitchell and Peak both topped the 200 plateau, with 205 and 201 respectively, to lead the way while Bryanna Caldwell came in with 194.

In Baker System play, where each team’s five bowlers play a single game with players taking turns to play each frame in turn, Central Missouri continued to bowl well, winning the first seven games to take a commanding lead.

Newcomer Jamie Mitchell scored a 205 in game two of UCM's match play victory over Kansas Newman Friday. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

Newman battled back, winning the next five games, but the Jennies pulled out three wins and a tie in the last four games to seal the match and win 2,791-2,620. Central Missouri rolled a pair of 200 games, the highest a 212, while Newman posted three 200 scores, the highest a 204.

“We did well for our first competition,” UCM head coach Ron Holmes said. “We have some things they can certainly take from this to work on. We also had several matches that weren’t very easy, but I think, overall, we had a real nice start to the season.”

“It was a really good day to start figuring out some of our new equipment and seeing how the team works together now that we’ve made a couple new additions,” added Peak. “It was a challenge for us to work together as a team and line up off of each other, try some shots and see what works.”

Central Missouri junior Bryanna Caldwell is one of four returning starters expected to lead the Jennies in their quest for a fourth straight NCAA Tournament berth. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

The Jennies’ varsity is a veteran unit with four returning starters - Bruce, Caldwell, Peak and Wirth. Mitchell is a transfer from Alvin (Texas) Community College and designated shot maker Ann Brown is a redshirt freshman from Decatur, Ill.

“It’ll be a tremendous help,” Holmes said. “We have several ladies who have been through these types of competitions before and our newcomers have quite a bit of experience.”

“We’re bringing well-experienced players back into it,” added Peak. I don’t think we’re going to have any trouble as far as making shots goes and we’ll keep it in a good, consistent flow."

Caldwell and Peak bring a little added experience to the mix as both have been selected for the United States Junior National Team. Caldwell attended training camp with Team USA in May and what she learned there is already benefiting the Jennies.

“I learned a lot of things that I brought to the team and to Coach Holmes,” Caldwell said. “We talked about things that will make us better and the little things that will help make us better each day.”

“I haven’t been to camp yet, but (Bryanna) is already helping apply things that she’s brought to the team which is already helping me prepare for Junior Nationals,” Peak added. “I think the experience is really going to help us out in college bowling.”

Central Missouri head coach Ron Holmes (left) talks strategy with returning starter Jiovanna Bruce during Friday's dual against Kansas Newman. (Photo by Dave Kopp)

After winning the College Bowling USA national championship in 2003, Central Missouri has placed second, second and fifth in the first three NCAA Women’s Bowling Championships. The sting of not reaching the national title match last spring is still a sore subject and the Jennies are determined to do what it takes to win it all in 2007.

“It’s just going to take having fun,” Peak said. “It’s just going out there, not over thinking our shots, having fun and keeping things in play. We just need to keep doing what we do best.”

First, however, UCM has to get through this opening weekend. Immediately following Friday’s match, the Jennies departed for Jonesboro, Ark., where they will face Arkansas State Saturday.

After that, UCM travels to St. Louis for a dual with Fontbonne University on Sunday.

“We really wanted to start the season like this,” Holmes said. “It may be a little aggressive, but it simulates what a lot of our matches are during the spring and even toward the postseason. This, at least gives us an opportunity to see how the team will do.”

“It’s a part of our season, it’s a part of what we do,” added Caldwell. “It’s why we’re good. We’re always on the road. We don’t have many home matches, so we take it for what it’s worth and get the job done.”

Central Missouri has two more events on the fall schedule in November - at the MSU-Mankato Maverick Invitational at Oak Forest, Ill., Nov. 16-18, and at the Jeannette Lee/St. Paul's NCAA Invitational at Lawrenceville, Va., the following weekend. The Jennies will then be idle for the month of December before resuming play in January.