The two-time defending bowling national champion Lady Hawks of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) were selected to finish atop the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) northern division, while the defending MEAC champion Norfolk State Spartans were chosen as the preseason favorite to win the southern division. UMES senior T'nia Falbo was named the Preseason Bowler of the Year, the conference announced on Friday.
The preseason poll and all-conference team selections are voted on by the MEAC's head bowling coaches and sports information directors.
Maryland Eastern Shore was a unanimous selection with 22 first-place votes. The Lady Hawks completed the 2011-12 season with a 29-1 mark in conference play and 108-36 overall record. UMES defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-2, to win its third NCAA women's bowling title in five years. In addition to Falbo, the Lady Hawks return four starters to this year's team.
Norfolk State received 14 first-place votes in this season's preseason poll. The Spartans recorded a 24-6 MEAC mark and 91-40 overall record last year. Last year's southern divisional winner returns eight letterwinners for this year's campaign.
Falbo, the reigning MEAC Player of the Year, averaged a 202.91 pinfall in 60 head-to-head matches last season for the Lady Hawks. The senior recorded a total pinfall of 12,238 and bowled a season-high 280 at the Prairie View Invitational. Last year, Falbo was named to the All-MEAC First Team and was a National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) Third Team All-American.
Delaware State was predicted to finish second in the northern division with 187 points. Hampton (163) was chosen to finish third in the north followed by Morgan State (161), Howard (142) and Coppin State (117).
In the southern division, the Bethune-Cookman Lady Wildcats were picked to finish second with a total of 219 points. Florida A&M was predicted to finish third with 155 points. North Carolina A&T (151) and North Carolina Central (149) completed the southern division preseason predictions with fourth and fifth place finishes, respectively.
Joining Falbo on the Preseason All-MEAC team are teammates Megan Buja and Anggie Ramirez. Staci Hillard of Bethune-Cookman and Norfolk State's Thea Aspiras round out the preseason team.
The MEAC Bowling Championship tournament is scheduled for March 22-24, 2013.
2012-13 MEAC Bowling Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the Conference's Head Bowling Coaches and Sports Information Directors
(First place votes in parenthesis)
MEAC Northern Division
1. Maryland Eastern Shore (22)...... 264 pts.
2. Delaware State........................... 187 pts.
3. Hampton.................................... 163 pts.
4. Morgan State............................. 161 pts.
5. Howard...................................... 142 pts.
6. Coppin State.............................. 117 pts.
MEAC Southern Division
1. Norfolk State (14).......................... 236 pts.
2. Bethune-Cookman (8).................... 219 pts.
3. Florida A&M.................................. 155 pts.
4. North Carolina A&T........................ 151 pts.
5. North Carolina Central.................... 149 pts.
2012-13 Bowling Preseason All-MEAC Team
As voted on by the Conference's Head Bowling Coaches and Sports Information Directors
Preseason Bowler of the Year: T'nia Falbo, Maryland Eastern Shore
Name School Cl. Hometown
Thea Aspiras Norfolk State Jr. Chesapeake, Va.
Megan Buja Maryland Eastern Shore Jr. Rockford, Ill.
T'nia Falbo Maryland Eastern Shore Sr. Greensburg, Pa.
Staci Hilliard Bethune-Cookman Sr. Port Huron, Mich.
Anggie Ramirez Maryland Eastern Shore Sr. Bogota, Colombia
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