The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Bowling Inks Three to NLIs
4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB bowling head coach Michelle Crews announced Friday that Annie Hurley, Rachael Berg and Alexa Fernandez have all signed National Letters of Intent to join the Blazers next season.
Hurley arrives at UAB following a stellar career at Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria, Ariz., where she served as team captain during her final three years with the Mustangs. She finished her senior season with an average score of 205 and a high score of 288.
Hurley was named all-conference following her freshman season and helped the Mustangs to three straight undefeated seasons. In addition, she recently won the Arizona State Tournament of Champions with an average of 221 over the two-day tournament. Hurley was also the high scratch female for all events in the 36th Annual Metro Phoenix USBC city tournament.
A second native of Peoria, Ariz., Berg competed at Liberty High School and was tabbed the 2014-15 Arizona State United States Bowling Congress Girl of the Year. She boasts an average score of 193 and a high score of 277. Berg has also finished in the top five of seven USBC Tournaments, which includes winning the Golden Pins Tournament and the Sam’s Town Hotel Casino Tournament.
Berg has also turned in 25 top 10 finishes in Junior Bowlers Tour Southwest Tournaments and has won four individual titles along the way.
Fernandez attended Marian Baker School in Costa Rica and becomes the first international player to sign with UAB. Fernandez has been a member of the Costa Rica National Bowling Team for four consecutive years and was the U-12 national champion in 2009 and the U-21 national champion in 2014 and 2015.
She has won 15 Gold Medals, nine Silver Medals and six Bronze Medals, including a Silver Medal in the team event at the Youth Central American and Caribbean Tournament in 2014 and a Bronze Medal in the Master’s Event at the Iberoamerican Tournament in 2015.
Fernandez is also the youngest female in Costa Rica to bowl an official perfect game.
“I am excited about these three women joining our stellar signing class from the fall,” UAB head coach Michelle Crews said. “Annie, Rachael and Alexa are the remaining puzzle pieces I was looking for this season. They all bring a strong competitive background, a desire for learning and a hunger and passion on the lanes. We are looking to come back better and stronger than ever and pick up right where we left off last season. We want to become a consistently ranked program that competes for national championships.”
The 2016-17 signing class will join Madeleine McDuff, the only returning student-athlete on the bowling team (Katy, Texas) and newcomer Caitlin Cunningham (Honolulu, Hawaii).
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