New leaders across three divisions at 2026 USBC Women’s Championships
June 07, 2026
Pictured above: Victoria Voytenko
LAS VEGAS – A busy two-day stretch at the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships featured new leaders in the Sapphire, Emerald and Ruby Divisions.
In Sapphire All-Events, Victoria Voytenko of Salida, Colorado, cruised to the top spot by nearly 70 pins on Thursday, posting a 1,530 total at the South Point Bowling Plaza. Stephanie Anderson of Fremont, California, previously held the lead with 1,461.
She had sets of 541 in singles, 505 in team and 484 in doubles.
Voytenko had a very solid game to start singles, rolling 209. It helped her a lot in achieving the all-events score and made her realize that it was going to be a good day.
“It’s been a lot of fun, especially bowling better than my average,” Voytenko said. “It’s always a good time. Some days you bowl really terrible and some days you bowl well. Today was that day where I bowled really well.”
For Voytenko, she tried to stay calm and just focus on bowling throughout the tournament. Her secret weapon for achieving such a high score was to remain calm, take a deep breath and bowl.
“I kind of realized I was doing well, but I was trying to stay calm,” Voytenko said. “If I don’t stay calm, I can get too tense and then it goes downhill.”
In addition to keeping her composure, Voytenko had plenty of team support behind her. They were always cheering her on frame by frame.
“Oh, they’re a good crowd,” Voytenko said. “They’re always hyping me up, and, you know, just cheering everyone on.”
Showcasing a humbling mindset, she would be thankful if she ended up taking the win at the end of the tournament, but it wasn’t something she was searching for overall.
“It’d be great, but I’m not really searching out for it,” Voytenko said. “If I get it, it would be cool. Las Vegas has been awesome. I had an amazing time with amazing people.”
Sapphire All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 135 and below.
LV Queens 3
Later in the day Thursday, the members of LV Queens 3 of Allentown, Pennsylvania, displayed their tenacity by taking the team lead in the Ruby Division at the 2026 USBC Women’s Championships, recording a total score of 2,176.
The team – featuring Kristy Muretta, Jennifer Ruth, LeeAnn Armellino and Jennifer Miller – narrowly took the lead by four pins. Arizona Heat of Queen Creek, Arizona, took the lead earlier in the day with 2,172.
In their first game, the team had a solid score of 656. They improved in Game 2 with 748 and saved their best game for last with an impressive score of 772.
Armellino led the way for this great overall team performance with a series of 629. Muretta helped out the team’s cause with a score of 584, which included 245 in Game 3. Miller added to the team’s score with 505, and Ruth had 458.
Armellino and her teammates were euphoric when they found out they had taken the lead.
“Our mindset coming into our team event was that we were going to have fun and try our best,” Armellino said.
As a team, LV Queens 3 really found its stride in Games 2 and 3.
“After the end of Game 1, we found out how the lanes were going to be,” Armellino said. “We adjusted well as a team, and I think everyone hit their marks. It was definitely smooth sailing from there.”
LeeAnn Armellino
On Friday at the Bowling Plaza, Armellino also took the overall lead in Ruby All-Events.
She was on another level over her two days at the tournament. She bowled a total of 1,806 to beat the previous leading score by 29 pins. Lisa Ross of Pacoima, California, previously held the lead with 1,777.
In addition to her 629 in team, Armellino had 635 in doubles and 542 in singles during her two days in Las Vegas. She was consistent throughout her events.
“My bowling ball helped me be consistent the last couple of days,” Armellino said. “It brings my confidence level tremendously up with bowling so well. The overall feeling is excitement, and it’s overwhelming. The reason why is because I didn’t know I only needed to bowl a 159 in Game 3 of singles to take the lead.
“I had no idea I was in the lead until my teammates came over and congratulated me. I have never done anything like this in my life. Being here is such an experience, and it’s full of such nice and lovely ladies to bowl with.”
This was Armellino’s first appearance at the Women’s Championships and the biggest bowling tournament she’s ever participated in.
“I am just so ecstatic that I was invited to this amazing tournament,” Armellino said. “I’m thrilled I bowled really well from start to finish. I also bowled The Forty Frame Game. So, it was a ton of bowling this weekend. My friends, family and I will celebrate and just enjoy Las Vegas for the rest of the weekend.”
Ruby Team includes four-player teams with combined entering averages of 621-700. Ruby All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 156-175.
Linda Simoneaux
Also on Friday in Las Vegas, Linda Simoneaux of River Ridge, Louisiana, narrowly took over the lead in Emerald Singles with an impressive score of 596. She passed the previous leader – Tina Redinger of Grafton, Ohio – by one pin.
In Game 1, she fired her best game with a fantastic score of 230. She kept up the momentum in Game 2 with a nice score of 200 and closed with 166 to secure the lead.
In her final frame, Simoneaux delivered a strike on her first ball and left a 10 pin on her second. She converted the spare to take the outright lead.
In Game 3, she had to battle back after hurting her hand during the first three frames. Simoneaux was shocked and jubilant when she heard she had taken the lead in the Emerald Division.
“It’s very exciting to take the lead here at the Women’s Championships,” Simoneaux said. “I have three boys that bowl, and it’s just fulfilling being here surrounded by family and friends in Las Vegas.”
This was Simoneaux’s eighth appearance at the Women’s Championships, and she is looking forward to traveling to North Carolina for next year’s tournament.
“It’s just fun traveling to different places with friends and family each year,” Simoneaux said. “We’re looking forward to traveling to a new city like Charlotte and experiencing the East Coast.”
Emerald Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 136-155.
The Women’s Championships is celebrating its 106th edition in 2026 and making its sixth trip to Las Vegas. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 16,000 bowlers and 4,200 four-player teams competing across 65 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.
LAS VEGAS – A busy two-day stretch at the 2026 United States Bowling Congress Women’s Championships featured new leaders in the Sapphire, Emerald and Ruby Divisions.
In Sapphire All-Events, Victoria Voytenko of Salida, Colorado, cruised to the top spot by nearly 70 pins on Thursday, posting a 1,530 total at the South Point Bowling Plaza. Stephanie Anderson of Fremont, California, previously held the lead with 1,461.
She had sets of 541 in singles, 505 in team and 484 in doubles.
Voytenko had a very solid game to start singles, rolling 209. It helped her a lot in achieving the all-events score and made her realize that it was going to be a good day.
“It’s been a lot of fun, especially bowling better than my average,” Voytenko said. “It’s always a good time. Some days you bowl really terrible and some days you bowl well. Today was that day where I bowled really well.”
For Voytenko, she tried to stay calm and just focus on bowling throughout the tournament. Her secret weapon for achieving such a high score was to remain calm, take a deep breath and bowl.
“I kind of realized I was doing well, but I was trying to stay calm,” Voytenko said. “If I don’t stay calm, I can get too tense and then it goes downhill.”
In addition to keeping her composure, Voytenko had plenty of team support behind her. They were always cheering her on frame by frame.
“Oh, they’re a good crowd,” Voytenko said. “They’re always hyping me up, and, you know, just cheering everyone on.”
Showcasing a humbling mindset, she would be thankful if she ended up taking the win at the end of the tournament, but it wasn’t something she was searching for overall.
“It’d be great, but I’m not really searching out for it,” Voytenko said. “If I get it, it would be cool. Las Vegas has been awesome. I had an amazing time with amazing people.”
Sapphire All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 135 and below.
LV Queens 3
Later in the day Thursday, the members of LV Queens 3 of Allentown, Pennsylvania, displayed their tenacity by taking the team lead in the Ruby Division at the 2026 USBC Women’s Championships, recording a total score of 2,176.
The team – featuring Kristy Muretta, Jennifer Ruth, LeeAnn Armellino and Jennifer Miller – narrowly took the lead by four pins. Arizona Heat of Queen Creek, Arizona, took the lead earlier in the day with 2,172.
In their first game, the team had a solid score of 656. They improved in Game 2 with 748 and saved their best game for last with an impressive score of 772.
Armellino led the way for this great overall team performance with a series of 629. Muretta helped out the team’s cause with a score of 584, which included 245 in Game 3. Miller added to the team’s score with 505, and Ruth had 458.
Armellino and her teammates were euphoric when they found out they had taken the lead.
“Our mindset coming into our team event was that we were going to have fun and try our best,” Armellino said.
As a team, LV Queens 3 really found its stride in Games 2 and 3.
“After the end of Game 1, we found out how the lanes were going to be,” Armellino said. “We adjusted well as a team, and I think everyone hit their marks. It was definitely smooth sailing from there.”
LeeAnn Armellino
On Friday at the Bowling Plaza, Armellino also took the overall lead in Ruby All-Events.
She was on another level over her two days at the tournament. She bowled a total of 1,806 to beat the previous leading score by 29 pins. Lisa Ross of Pacoima, California, previously held the lead with 1,777.
In addition to her 629 in team, Armellino had 635 in doubles and 542 in singles during her two days in Las Vegas. She was consistent throughout her events.
“My bowling ball helped me be consistent the last couple of days,” Armellino said. “It brings my confidence level tremendously up with bowling so well. The overall feeling is excitement, and it’s overwhelming. The reason why is because I didn’t know I only needed to bowl a 159 in Game 3 of singles to take the lead.
“I had no idea I was in the lead until my teammates came over and congratulated me. I have never done anything like this in my life. Being here is such an experience, and it’s full of such nice and lovely ladies to bowl with.”
This was Armellino’s first appearance at the Women’s Championships and the biggest bowling tournament she’s ever participated in.
“I am just so ecstatic that I was invited to this amazing tournament,” Armellino said. “I’m thrilled I bowled really well from start to finish. I also bowled The Forty Frame Game. So, it was a ton of bowling this weekend. My friends, family and I will celebrate and just enjoy Las Vegas for the rest of the weekend.”
Ruby Team includes four-player teams with combined entering averages of 621-700. Ruby All-Events features bowlers with entering averages of 156-175.
Linda Simoneaux
Also on Friday in Las Vegas, Linda Simoneaux of River Ridge, Louisiana, narrowly took over the lead in Emerald Singles with an impressive score of 596. She passed the previous leader – Tina Redinger of Grafton, Ohio – by one pin.
In Game 1, she fired her best game with a fantastic score of 230. She kept up the momentum in Game 2 with a nice score of 200 and closed with 166 to secure the lead.
In her final frame, Simoneaux delivered a strike on her first ball and left a 10 pin on her second. She converted the spare to take the outright lead.
In Game 3, she had to battle back after hurting her hand during the first three frames. Simoneaux was shocked and jubilant when she heard she had taken the lead in the Emerald Division.
“It’s very exciting to take the lead here at the Women’s Championships,” Simoneaux said. “I have three boys that bowl, and it’s just fulfilling being here surrounded by family and friends in Las Vegas.”
This was Simoneaux’s eighth appearance at the Women’s Championships, and she is looking forward to traveling to North Carolina for next year’s tournament.
“It’s just fun traveling to different places with friends and family each year,” Simoneaux said. “We’re looking forward to traveling to a new city like Charlotte and experiencing the East Coast.”
Emerald Singles features bowlers with entering averages of 136-155.
The Women’s Championships is celebrating its 106th edition in 2026 and making its sixth trip to Las Vegas. The 2026 event is scheduled to feature more than 16,000 bowlers and 4,200 four-player teams competing across 65 consecutive days at the South Point Bowling Plaza.
Follow the action from the tournament’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts.