NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One month before the season starts, the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) released the pre-season coaches’ poll and in it the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is ranked fifth in the nation. The Hawks finished the 2013-14 campaign ranked fourth in the same poll after taking a semi-final finish at the NCAA Championships.
The 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Champions earned 524 points, trailing fourth place Vanderbilt by 18 points. The Commodores also received one first place vote. In third place was the reigning champions Sam Houston State, who eliminated UMES from the NCAA Championships in the semi-final round before going on to defeat Nebraska for the school’s first NCAA title. The Bearkats earned 572 points and seven first place votes.
In second place was Arkansas State. The Red Wolves were the Number One team most of the season in 2013-14 but were eliminated from the NCAA Championships by UMES. They earned four first place votes and 613 points. Nebraska, last season’s runner-up was first, earning 11 first-place votes and 664 total points.
Rounding out the next five teams were Central Missouri (456 points), Fairleigh Dickinson (444 points), Wisconsin-Whitewater (360 points), Stephen F. Austin (315 points) and St. Francis (Pa.) (272 points) ranked sixth through tenth respectively.
Fellow MEAC schools North Carolina A&T and Delaware State were ranked 13th and 19th respectively. Norfolk State also received votes.
UMES returns six of their eight players from last season, losing just one senior. That one was a big loss in All-America and Academic All-America honoree Megan Buja but returns fellow All-American Mariana Alvarado, MEAC First-Team honoree Victoria Jones, MEAC Rookie of the Year Sara Pelayo and seasoned veterans Tatiana Munoz and Valerie Riggin. Add to the mix sophomore Justyne Falbo, freshman Melanie Copey and international star Thashaina Seraus and UMES feels ready to compete again among the nation’s elite.
“We have four seniors and a cast of other great bowlers who know how to compete and how to win. We are really looking forward to a great season and are ready to get going at the end of the month,” said head coach Kayla Bandy.
The team opens their season at the FDU New Jersey Jamboree October 31-November 2, 2014.