LANSING, Mich. - Olivia Nolte and Abigail Price got the NJCAA Bowling Championships off to a strong start for the two-time defending national champion Iowa Central women.

Nolte and Price claimed the doubles title with a score of 1,214 as the Tritons sit second overall behind Rock Valley following day one action at the Royal Scot Lanes. 

Rock Valley has 5,759 with Iowa Central scoring 5,616. Hawkeye is third followed by Jackson and Iowa Western. On Friday, the men's singles and doubles will take place, along with the first three team games. 

Nolte, a sophomore, had game scores of 223, 214 and 192 for a 629 series, while Price, a freshman rolled 160, 246 and 179 for a 585. 

Samantha Wangen and Madisyn Gerdts were 10th in doubles and Leah Sanck and Abigayle Clark finished 15th. 

In singles, Price finished runner-up with scores of 189, 231 and 183 for a 603 series. Clark placed ninth and Sanck, a state champion for Fort Dodge Senior High, was 10th. Gerdts finished 16th, Cassadey Lee was 19th, Nolte 21st and Victoria Potter 22nd.

"We are in a good position to win our third straight national championship," Iowa Central head coach Gregg Haden said. "We are seeing our season accomplishments here at nationals and have a great chance to do well on the men's and women's sides."

Men's doubles and singles will take to the lanes here Friday at 7:15 a.m. Iowa time. The first three-game block of five-person begins at noon. 

-By Dana Becker