READING, Pa. – Facing its stiffest competition of the year, the NSU bowling team compiled an 8-7 record last weekend at the Kutztown Invitational.

The three-day event featured 28 teams, including 15 of the top 20 and eight of the top 10 teams in the nation according to the latest National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) poll. NSU (51-34), ranked 19th nationally, more than held its own. The Spartans started off with a 2-3 mark in Friday’s baker games, falling to St. Peter’s, New Jersey City and Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Spartans picked up wins over Florida A&M and seventh-ranked Central Missouri.

The Spartans broke even with a 3-3 record in Saturday’s traditional team games. Freshman Lauren Graupmann (Chesapeake, Va.) led the way with 1,137 total pins in the six games for a 189.5 average. She knocked down 207 pins in a loss to NJCU and 206 in a win over Sacred Heart. The Spartans also had wins over Morgan State and Long Island, but fell short to Maryland Eastern Shore and Southern.

Senior Tiffany Hunt (Norfolk, Va.) was next with a 187.6 average, knocking down 938 pins in five games. Her day included a personal-best and team season-high game of 258 in the loss to UMES. Freshman Jessica Overton (Mechanicsville, Va.) was steady all day with 1,093 total pins (182.2 average), while senior Krystal Stevenson (Richmond, Va.) had a season-best average of 170.7 (512 pins in three games).

The Spartans closed the weekend well with a 3-1 mark in Sunday’s baker games. After opening with a loss to Wisconsin-Whitewater, NSU bounced back with consecutive hard-fought wins over FAMU and a victory over SUNY-IT.

NSU finished the weekend 17th in the field.

The Spartans are back in action this weekend at the Capital Classic in Dover, Del.