Maryland Eastern Shore's Maria Rodriguez was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Preseason Bowler of the Year, the conference announced on Monday The Lady Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore were picked to finish atop the MEAC northern division, while Florida A&M was selected as the preseason favorite to win the southern division.

Rodriguez, who earned back-to-back MEAC Player of the Year accolades, averaged a 204.1 during 56 games last season. The senior tallied 11,432 total pinfall and bowled a game high 277 at the Fright Night Invitational.  Last year, Rodriguez was named to the All-MEAC First Team and was a National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) All-American.

Maryland Eastern Shore is currently ranked second in the preseason NTCA poll. The Lady Hawks completed the 2009-10 season with a 23-7 mark in conference play and 103-37 overall record. UMES received 17 first-place votes for a total of 249 points to earn the top northern spot. In addition to Rodriguez, UMES returns three starters to this year's team.

Delaware State was predicted to finish second in the northern division with 211 points. The Lady Hornets posted a 29-1 mark in the MEAC and 104-44 overall record a year ago.  They head into this season ranked seventh in the nation according to the preseason NTCA poll.

Morgan State (165) was slated to finish third in the north followed by Hampton (161), Howard (135) and Coppin State (113).

In the southern division, Florida A&M received 13 first-place votes. The Lady Rattlers recorded a 19-5 MEAC mark and 74-46 overall record last year. Last year's southern divisional title winners welcome one newcomer along with eight returning letterwinners for this year's campaign.

The Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats were picked to finish second in the southern division with 189 total points. Norfolk State was predicted to finish third with 182 points. South Carolina State (172) and North Carolina A&T (143) complete the southern division preseason predictions with a fourth and fifth place ranking, respectively.

Joining Rodriguez on the Preseason All-MEAC Team are teammates Martha Perez and Kristina Frahm. Morgan State's Keisheena Waldom, Delaware State's Nicole Bower and Florida A&M's Samantha Mighty round out the preseason team.

The preseason poll and all-conference team selections are voted on by the MEAC's head bowling coaches and sports information directors.

Conference play begins November 13-14 with the northern division facing off in Washington, D.C. and the southern division competing in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The 2011 MEAC Bowling Championship tournament is scheduled for March 18-20, 2011 at the Gate City Lanes in Greensboro, North Carolina.  

For more information on MEAC bowling and other sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com.