Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team opens their season this weekend at the Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) Fright Night Invite.

 The defense of the NCAA Championship will begin in a 12-team tournament that features some of the nation's top teams.  Second-ranked Vanderbilt, the 2007 NCAA Champions and the top ranked UMES Hawks means that New Jersey will be the hub of collegiate bowling this weekend.

Also bowling this weekend will be four more teams ranked in the top ten in the nation. Sixth-ranked Sacred Heart, seventh ranked and host FDU, number eighth ranked New Jersey City University and MEAC rival and ninth ranked Delaware State are also in the highly competitive field.

While the Hawks may be ranked no. 1 in the nation by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) the road to the 2009 title won't be a smooth one.  They lost two former All-Americans in Jessica Worsley and Laura Zanrucha.  Worsley was the 2008 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Bowler.

However, the lights are still very bright for the Hawk faithful as UMES returns last season's National Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-American Kristina Frahm and Second-Team All-American Maria Rodriguez.

The Lady Hawks also sport experience on the roster.  Sophomore standout Martha Perez remains as one of three starters along with Frahm and Rodriguez. Seniors Jamie Culbreth and Sara DiSciosica are expected to make major contributions as is sophomore Katherine Brown.

The FDU Fright Knight Invite kicks off at noon on each day, October 31 and November 1 & 2.