NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bethune-Cookman University bowling will begin the 2013-14 season ranked No. 20 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) preseason poll, announced this week from the home office in Nashville, Tenn.

Under the direction of head coach Tony O’Neal, the Wildcats finished last season with a record of 60-65 (10-14 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). They would go on to finish the MEAC Championships with a final day mark of 2-2, also ending the year tied for No. 20 in the final NTCA poll.

Defending national champion Nebraska sits atop the preseason poll.

The Cornhuskers received 19 of the 26 first place votes to tally 744 poll points, well ahead of second place Vanderbilt, who was last year’s national runner-up. The Commodores received two first-place votes and had 671 points.

Central Missouri, which was No. 1 much of last season, came in third and received three first-place ballots while Arkansas State was fourth after receiving the other two first-place votes. Maryland-Eastern Shore was fifth.

Rounding out the Top 10 is Sam Houston State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Wisconsin-Whitewater, Stephen F. Austin and Saint Francis University.

The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman open the year at the Tulane Invitational on Oct. 18-20 in New Orleans, La.