NASHVILLE-The two-time defending NCAA Women's Bowling National Champions are sitting atop the bowling world again this season.  The National Tenpins Coaches Association  (NTCA) just released their pre-season poll and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) garnered 14 first-place votes and 634 points to earn the No. 1 ranking.  UMES was voted to that same spot in the final poll last season after winning their third and second consecutive NCAA title.

The poll saw a wide variety in terms of teams getting votes.  Six different teams garnered a first place vote.

Arkansas State (589 points) earned the second spot and five first place votes. All the Red Wolves' starters from the dominating 2011-12 team, that finished no lower than fourth in a regular season will return.

Last year's NCAA Runner-Up, Fairleigh Dickinson (553 points, 1 first), garnered the third spot in the poll.  The Knights lost two regulars, but return NCAA Player of the year Danielle McEwan for her senior season as they look to repeat as Northeast Conference regular season champions. 

Coming off a Semi-Final appearance in last year's Championship, Vanderbilt (495 points, 1 first) takes the fourth spot in the poll. The Commodores look to replace two starters. 

Rounding out the top five is Nebraska (477 points, 1 first). The perennial power Cornhuskers return a solid group as they look to make their ninth trip to the NCAA Championship. 

Central Missouri (471 points, 1 first) is in the sixth spot to start the year.  Defending NEC Tournament Champion Sacred Heart University (435 points) is in the seventh place and Sam Houston State University (323 points) from Huntsville, Texas sits in eighth.  Valparaiso University (309 points) of Valparaiso, Ind., which enjoyed its finest season last year making it to the NCAA Championships enters the season in the ninth spot.  The Lady Jacks from Stephen F. Austin University (285 points) retain their highest rank in program history round out the top ten of the poll in tenth.

The MEAC was well represented in the poll as well.  Norfolk State earned 240 points to finish 11^th, Bethune-Cookman was 18^th and Delaware State was 20^th.  Morgan State and North Carolina A&T State both received votes.

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