DETROIT, Mich.-Maria Rodriguez has a big hand in the success of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's (UMES) women's bowling program and tonight she was recognized for it with the NCAA sport's highest honor.  Rodriguez was names the Division I Player of the Year by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) at the NCAA Tournament Banquet on the eve of the championship.

"What an honor," said Rodriguez.  "I am truly humbled by this; it is great to be recognized by the coaches who have driven this sport to where it is.  For me it justifies all the hard work, all the sweat, blood and tears that have literally gone into my college career.  It is an awesome feeling."

Rodriguez is the first National Player of the Year UMES has ever had since becoming a Division I program and, along with teammate Kristina Frahm, one of two four-time All-Americans in school history.

"I am so proud of Maria," said head coach Sharon Brummell.  "I know she feels vindicated.  She gave up a lot to come here and start her bowling life anew but in the end it has been great for her and great for our program and university.  She has been a driving force in elevating this program to the status we have today.  She deserved this award."

Frahm joined Rodriguez as a First-Team All-American, the second selection of her career and fourth overall.  Martha Perez was a Second-Team All-American and Anggie Ramirez earned her first All-American selection being named to the Third-Team.

Rodriguez earned her third MEAC Player of the Year award earlier this season and finished with an average of 210.44.  She was named to three All-Tournament Teams this season, was a MEAC Bowler of the Week and even had time to earn the honor of top bowler in her nation's Team Trials.  She also earned her third All-MEAC award this season and posted the second highest pinfall of any women's bowler at any ISC sectional.

Frahm was almost as sensational, the MEAC First-Team selection was a two-time MEAC Bowler of the Week, a four-time All-Tournament Team member, including MVP at the Capital Classic and qualified as the top singles bowler in the country winning the Euless, Texas sectional of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) International Singles Championship qualifiers.  She averaged a 206.4 for the year.

Perez, who earned her second All-American honor was another All-MEAC selection, a three-time MEAC Bowler of the Week, she was MVP of the Mid-Winter Classic and earned a spot on two All-Tournament Teams.  She rolled a career high 296 at at MEAC Northern Division Meet and won the Columbian National Title to start the season.  She posted a 208.84 average for the year.

Ramirez, the 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year got her first All-American nod with a 202.6 average.  She was MVP of the Hawk Classic and a MEAC Bowler of the Week.  Ramirez also was named a First-Team All-Conference selection.  She was second to Rodriguez in her native Colombia's Team Trials, earning a spot on the roster.

"I am also very proud of all four of these young ladies," Brummell continued.  The senior class of Maria, Kristina and Martha has been instrumental in getting us where we are, they are National Champions and deserve every accolade they have earned and more.  Our other young ladies are earning that status too, they are learning from the best [the senior trio of Frahm, Perez and Rodriguez] and will continue what they have started and carve their own path.  I expect them to get these kind of awards too, I expect our program to continue to be great because we have great young ladies in it"

The Lady Hawks take to the lanes tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. at Skore Lanes in Taylor, Mich.  They will play seven team games and be seeded, based on win/loss record for double elimination play beginning on Friday.  Fans can watch live streaming of all of Thursday's and Friday's matches on www.umeshawks.com