The Siena Heights men’s and women’s bowling teams both placed second in their first of two home tournaments this season Oct. 24 at Ten Pin Alley in Tecumseh, Mich., for the inaugural Halo Invitational.

The four other schools in attendance for the tournament were Toledo (Ohio), Rochester (Mich.), Cornerstone (Mich.), and Adrian (Mich.).

On the women’s side, the Saints fell 236-pins shy of a dominant Adrian squad that saw their top-bowler, Brittney Antonelli, take first-place individual honors with a six-game series of 1,210 (201.67 average).

Tiffany Logan was the top-finisher for the Saints, compiling a six-game set of 1,139 (189.5 average) on her way to a second-place finish. Amanda Barry (1,075), Courtney Herron (1,061), Laura Robinson (1,051), and Tanishia Townsend (1,047) all placed in the top-ten as well to give Siena Heights five of the top ten bowlers in the tournament.

Former player and current graduate assistant Paul Farley served as the women’s coach for the day and was pleased with the continued growth the team has shown.

“I am very proud,” Farley said. “They bowled exceptionally well. Siena Heights bowling has grown as a program and I look for it to make great strides this year.”

On the men’s side, the Saints found themselves with a 28-pin advantage over Toledo heading into the final team game, only to be out-bowled by the Rockets 971-921 which resulted in a narrow 22-pin defeat. Nevertheless, the second-place result by the Saints still marked the best finish in school history.

Senior Kenneth DeGraaf led the team and the field, placing first overall in the 44-bowler field with a six-game series of 1,271 (211.83), which included a three-game stretch of 237, 226, and 268 following a rough 156 and 182 game to start the day.

Also for the Saints, Steven Cadwell finished sixth with a 1,136 (189.33) and Will Shaffran finished seventh with a 1,108 (184.67).

For DeGraaf, the win marked his second career individual collegiate title. He also won the Great Lakes Jayhawk Classic last season in Muskegon, Mich., with a four-game series of 947 (236.75).

Head coach Charles Cain was with the men’s team most of the day and was thrilled to see his team competing for a tournament victory for the first time in school history.

“The oil pattern we bowled on was extremely challenging and the scores showed just how difficult it was,” Cain said. “While in a way it was painful, getting so close to winning a tournament for the first time in school history, it was extremely thrilling. It goes to show all of the hard work and practice they put in this season is paying off.”

The Saints will next be back in action on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Super Bowl in Canton, Mich., where they will be competing in the first and second American-Heartland Conference tournaments of the season.