PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland— The University of Maryland Eastern Shore rebounded after the first two days of the Eastern Shore Hawk Classic to win three straight and to move up two spots in the final standings to ninth place, and head into the winter break in a better frame of mind.

"After the second day, obviously we weren't very happy with how we performed," Hawks head coach Roger Petrin said. "Especially after the first day, where we bowled decent and had a game plan going into the next day and it felt like we just didn't compete. We were there and throwing shots, but we weren't competitors and we weren't competing to win."

Eastern Shore (25-22, 3-5 MEAC) remained at Millsboro Lanes on Saturday, until after the other teams had left the facility.

"It was just about having the conversation of 'do we really want to win?'" Petrin said. "Honestly it didn't feel like it. We have been in the situation too many times over this semester where our first game out of the gate, we just throw it away. It takes us three sets to really wake up. (Sunday) morning it started out that way and we had to stop it after Game 1 in the first match."

The National Tenpin Coaches Association No. 20 Hawks opened bracket play against Wilmington University and dropped the opening game of the best-of-seven Baker match 238-139 and Petrin had already seen enough.

"It was all due to missed makeables," Petrin said. "I pulled the ladies off of the pair entirely and just said: 'the second we go back on this lane we are a completely different team and we are here to compete.' That's what we did for the rest of the day — we competed."

The Shore won the next four games to take the opening match against the Wildcats, 4-1. Petrin said that match was about learning how not to lose as the team held on despite Wilmington having chances.

In the second match against No. 25 Adelphi, Eastern Shore took a 2-0 lead before the Panthers knotted it at 2-2. But the team rebounded to take the next two games (210-137, 163-135) and the match to move to 2-0 on the day.

"I think we saw a glimpse of what our potential is today," Petrin said. "That's what it is — a glimpse. We are close to doing something great. The girls are recognizing what it means to be a team and what it means to communicate. They communicated more effectively than they have all year and it shows."

In the final match, the Hawks were locked in a battle with No. 11 Duquesne. After taking the first two games again, The Shore let the Dukes back into it as they tied it at 2-2. After the fifth match ended in a 164-164 tie, it was 2.5-2.5 and it was time to come through.

"That third match that we bowled was a difference between not losing the match and going in and winning it," Petrin said. "That's what the third match was. We WON that match, which feels so much sweeter. We made adjustments, we communicated well and  we went and got it. That's one of the few times this year that we went and competed to win."

Petrin said that Elizabeth Ross (Schenectady, New York) continued some of her momentum from Saturday and threw a ton of really good shots Sunday.

"We had her in the leadoff position for the majority of the day and she kind of set the tone for our team," Petrin said. "She is a higher energy person and once she gets things going and she's rolling it well, she is able to transition that well to the rest of the team. It was big being able to have her in the one sport and she was in the No. 5 spot for the last two or three games and threw a lot of nice shots down the stretch."

It was the last Eastern Shore Hawk Classic for graduate student Paulina Torres (Ponce, Puerto Rico) who was celebrated in the morning on senior day.

"With Paulina it's not even about just bowling," Petrin said. "She eats, sleeps and breathes bowling for University of Maryland Eastern Shore. And if it wasn't for her, my life could have been miserable through this whole coaching transition. It is greatly appreciated everything that she has done for this program up to this point and she has been a great role model to the younger ladies on this team. She has been the leader and set the tone and created a good team chemistry. It's something I am appreciative of, my wife is appreciative of and I think the other girls are as well."

Eastern Shore will now be off until the Stormin' Blue & White Vegas Classic on Jan. 8.

"It's almost not a good time to win because it's almost like I want to do that again," Petrin said. "But we've ended the first half of the season on a positive note."