The Fresno State women and Wichita State men began their quest for national championships by claiming the top seeds after qualifying Thursday at the 2007 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships.

The USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships is the pinnacle event of the college bowling season with the top 16 men's and top 16 women's teams in the country vying for national titles at Northrock Lanes.

The hometown Shockers paced the men's field with a 205.5 average over 32 Baker system games, totaling 6,577 to lead second-place Pikeville by 70 pins. Florida State was third at 6,494.

"Looking back and seeing people you bowl league with and former team members gives us a tremendous boost," said Wichita State anchor George Lambert IV, who finished third last year in the USBC Masters. "Our goal for tomorrow is to beat the lanes. If we can get away from watching the competition and focus on beating the lanes, I think we will do well."

On the women's side, the Bulldogs took the lead after Game 30 and never looked back, finishing with games of 231 and 189 to secure the top seed. Fresno State finished with 6,327 (a 197.7 average) while Wichita State totaled 6,283 to lock up the No. 2 seed. Newman, which is also based in Wichita, was third with 6,243.

"We didn't come into today with any goals because you can sometimes set yourself up for defeat when you do that," said Fresno State senior Brittany Tierney, who was on Junior Team USA in 2005. "We're going to keep moving forward, hold each other up and be confident. Today was a super marathon. It was a long, grueling day, but it gives us confidence going into tomorrow."

All teams advanced to the double-elimination, match-play bracket Friday, where the field will be cut to the top four men's and women's teams by the end of the day. The semifinals will be conducted Saturday morning with the top two men's and women's teams advancing to the nationally-televised finals, which will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on College Sports Television (CSTV).

Northrock Lanes, Wichita, Kan.

MEN
1. Wichita State, 6,577 (205.53 average); 2. Pikeville, 6,507; 3. Florida State, 6,494; 4. Saginaw Valley State, 6,463; 5. Fresno State, 6,457; 6. Lindenwood, 6,440; 7. Robert Morris, 6,431; 8. St John's, 6,327; 9. West Texas A&M, 6,215; 10. Central Florida, 6,148; 11. Calumet, 6,094; 12. William Paterson, 6,062; 13. Nebraska, 6,020; 14. Missouri Baptist, 5,988; 15. Morehead State, 5,693; 16. UC Davis, 5,582.

WOMEN
1. Fresno State, 6,327 (197.72 average); 2. Wichita State, 6,283; 3. Newman, 6,243; 4. Lindenwood, 6,154; 5. Pikeville, 6,128; 6. Central Florida, 6,016; 7. Purdue, 5,901; 8. Shippensburg, 5,890; 9. McKendree, 5,854; 10. Morehead State, 5,801; 11. Ball State, 5,663; 12. Western Illinois, 5,649; 13. Penn State, 5,556; 14. West Texas A&M, 5,478; 15. Ohio State, 5,422; 16. Hudson Valley CC, 5,364.

Best-of-seven, double-elimination match play begins at 9:30 a.m. CDT

MEN
Red Bracket
(1) Wichita State vs. (16) UC Davis
(8) St. John's vs. (9) West Texas A&M
(5) Fresno State vs. (12) William Paterson
(4) Saginaw Valley State vs. (13) Nebraska
Blue Bracket
(2) Pikeville vs. (15) Morehead State
(7) Robert Morris vs. (10) Central Florida
(6) Lindenwood vs. (11) Calumet
(3) Florida State vs. (14) Missouri Baptist

WOMEN
Red Bracket
(1) Fresno State vs. (16) Hudson Valley CC
(8) Shippensburg vs. (9) McKendree
(5) Pikeville vs. (12) Western Illinois
(4) Lindenwood vs. (13) Penn State
Blue Bracket
(2) Wichita State vs. (15) Ohio State
(7) Purdue vs. (10) Morehead State
(6) Central Florida vs. (11) Ball State
(3) Newman vs. (14) West Texas A&M