SMYRNA, Tennessee – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks levied a challenge on the second day of competition at the Intercollegiate Team Championships (ITC) Sectional Qualifier, but came just shy of cracking the Top Four necessary to compete in the USBC National Championship Tournament.

The Hawks finished in fifth place after the two-day tournament that consisted of 64 Baker matches in a 20-team pool. The Smyrna sectional was one of four locations, each featuring 20 teams, with only 16 total teams qualifying for the USBC National Championship Tournament.

After two days of competition, UMES finished just shy of fourth place with a total pinfall of 12,322. The top four finishers, in order, were: Jacksonville State University (13,030 pins), Savannah College of Art and Design-Savannah (12,596), Maryville University (12,521) and Stephen F. Austin State University (12,488).

The Hawks bowled in four four-game Baker blocks, with two each day. Through the first block, the Hawks notched a total of 2,999 and followed up with 3,102 in the second block. After the first day, UMES was ranked sixth at the sectional. UMES finished up the sectional Sunday with a 3,184 during the third block to take fourth place before Stephen F. Austin retook fourth while UMES hit 3,037 in the final block.

Individually, the top five bowlers from each sectional also advanced to the championship. Aaliyah Friend posted the Hawks' top marks for the tournament with 1,272 to finish in 17th. Mariane Almeida finished with 1,163 while Gabriella Ochoa Hubbard finished with 1,125 and Ara Pitts with 1,103. Mariana Santos Rivero notched 1,099 and Brooke Driver finished with 1,010.

Next up the Hawks will return to Smyrna, Tennessee, for the Music City Classic from March 14-16. UMES will follow that up by looking to defend its championship title from last season at the MEAC Bowling Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina, from March 21-23. The Hawks are the No. 2 seed entering the MEAC Championship.