Qualifying concludes at 2011 NAIA Invitational

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INDIANAPOLIS -
With 24 games of qualifying completed, the seeding for the double-elimination bracket was determined Friday at the 2011 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Invitational.

Robert Morris (Illinois) led the men's field, while Webber International topped the women after the opening day of the event at Woodland Bowl. Bowling continues Saturday at 8 a.m. Eastern and is being broadcast from start to finish on BOWL.com.

Robert Morris, the No. 2 ranked team in NAIA, totaled 5,056 for 24 Baker system games (five players combine to form one team game). Lindenwood finished second with 4,904, while Webber International was third with 4,759.

In the women's division, fourth-ranked Webber International led with 4,750, while Robert Morris was second with 4,722. Lindenwood rounded out the top three with 4,605.

All 23 men's and 22 women's teams remained in the hunt to be crowned the first NAIA champion since the event was last held in 1978. The teams will take part in the double-elimination bracket on Saturday and Sunday until champions are crowned in each division.

NAIA elevated bowling to emerging sport status last summer. The move by one of the nation's governing bodies for collegiate athletics puts bowling on the path to becoming a championship sport for dozens of additional colleges and universities across the country.

In the 2010-11 season, teams from 28 schools fielded bowling teams.  If 50 or more NAIA member institutions designate bowling as a varsity sport, then bowling will be eligible for championship sport status and an NAIA national championship.

The NAIA has 50,000 student-athletes participating at nearly 300 member colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Divided into 25 conferences and the Association of Independent Institutions, the NAIA offers 23 championships in 13 sports. All NAIA bowling programs are members of USBC Collegiate.

2011 NAIA INVITATIONAL
(At Woodland Bowl, Indianapolis)
Friday's Results

MEN
(24 games)

1, Robert Morris University (Illinois), 5,056.
2, Lindenwood University, 4,904.
3, Webber International University, 4,759.
4, William Penn University, 4,746.
5, Midland University, 4,733.
6, Marian University, 4,660.
7, McKendree University, 4,634.
8, Calumet College of St. Joseph, 4,614.
9, Viterbo University, 4,549.
10, St. Catharine, 4,498.
11, Indiana Tech, 4,491.
12, St. Ambrose University, 4,481.
13, Pikeville College, 4,456.
14, Notre Dame College, 4,415.
15, Davenport University, 4,323.
16, Clarke University, 4,313.
17, Missouri Baptist University, 4,306.
18, Campbellsville University, 4,279.
19, Martin Methodist University, 4,260.
20, Grand View University, 4,048.
21, Siena Heights University, 3,902.
22, Bethel University, 3,803.
23, Our Lady of the Lake University, 3,359.

WOMEN
(24 games)


1, Webber International University, 4,750.
2, Robert Morris University (Illinois), 4,722.
3, Lindenwood University, 4,605.
4, McKendree University, 4,440.
5, Notre Dame College, 4,408.
6, Pikeville College, 4,387.
7, Marian University, 4,372.
8, Calumet College of St. Joseph, 4,321.
9, Davenport University, 4,286.
10, William Penn University, 4,260.
11, Midland University, 4,247.
12, Bethel University, 4,113.
13, Viterbo University, 4,109.
13, St. Ambrose University, 4,109.
15, Grand View University, 3,815.
16, Clarke University, 3,804.
17, Martin Methodist University, 3,777.
18, Campbellsville University, 3,658.
19, Indiana Tech, 3,407.
20, Siena Heights University, 3,285.
21, Our Lady of the Lake University, 3,144.
22, Missouri Baptist University, 2,563.