LAS VEGAS—The Jax State bowling team is one of the last four standing as competition begins at the 2025 NCAA National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship Friday morning.
 
Jax State won last year's title over Arkansas State in the seventh game of the best-of-seven Baker series.
 
"You're never defending, because what you did nobody can ever take away from you," said coach Shannon O'Keefe. "We're just returning to start the next chapter. We have five new girls on our roster out of eight so being able to take them through this for the first time and start their legacy is very exciting."
 
The Gamecocks are now two-for-two in reaching the Final Four after winning it all during their inaugural season of play last year and won the Arlington Regional last week with three 2-0 Mega Match victories over Belmont Abbey and Stephen F. Austin.
 
"Making it to the Final Four is pretty incredible," said O'Keefe. "To remind the girls that they are one of about 40 to make it this far in a season and make it to the end is special."
 
The team spent Thursday going through an hour-long practice session at Suncoast as well as a community service project with Special Olympics.
 
"I always think of the practice session as more of a guide than a guarantee; just to get a feel for the lanes," said freshman Melia Mitskavich. "You never know what it's going to be like tomorrow, but it's good to kind of see how the lanes are playing.
 
The Gamecocks are the No. 1 overall seed and will take on No. 4 seed Wichita State in their first match Friday at 11 a.m. Central at the Suncoast Bowling Center. This will be the fifth meeting this season between the two teams. Jax State defeated the Shockers 4-2 in a best-of-seven Baker series to advance to the championship of the Flyer Classic. WSU won the championship of the Mid-Winter Classic 4-1 and won a Mega Match over Jax State at the Conference USA Championship, 2-1 and a best-of-seven series in the seventh game.
 
On the opposite side of the bracket are second-seeded Nebraska and third-seeded Youngstown State. The Gamecocks have won six of nine matches against Nebraska this season and are 1-6 against Youngstown State.
 
The first two rounds of the double-elimination tournament will take place on Friday on NCAA.com at 11 a.m. Central and 5 p.m. Central. The team that goes 2-0 on Friday advances to the Championship match on Saturday at 8 p.m. Central on ESPNU. The final elimination match will take place at 11 a.m. Central on Saturday.