NORFOLK, Va. — Maryland Eastern Shore’s Thashaina Seraus was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Bowler of the Year, the conference announced today. Alexa Rodriguez of Norfolk State was selected Rookie of the Year, while Maryland Eastern Shore’s Kayla Bandy earned Coach of the Year accolades.
All awards are voted on by the conference’s head bowling coaches and sports information directors.
Seraus guided the Hawks to an 18-6 mark in conference play and a 73-39 overall record as Maryland Eastern Shore won the northern division. The senior led the team in strike percentage (52.4-percent) and spares (78.3-percent). Seraus, a six-time MEAC Bowler of the Week honoree, notched 503 strikes and 358 spares this season. She averaged 209.6 in team matches and 208.6 during Baker play.
Rodriguez tallied a 191.8 average in 73 games during her rookie campaign. She recorded a 6,331 total pinfall and notched a season-high 259 at the UMES Hawk Classic. Rodriguez, a one-time MEAC Bowler of the Week selection, registered two tournaments with over 1,000 total pinfall, with a season-best 1,119 during six games at the UMES Hawk Classic.
In her third season as head coach, Bandy led the Hawks to a 73-39 regular season record and 18-6 mark in MEAC play. Maryland Eastern Shore won the northern division is currently ranked 12th in overall RPI.
Joining Seraus on the All-MEAC First-Team is North Carolina A&T State’s Emily Strombeck and Mackenzie Robinson, Delaware State’s Chelsey Merklinger and Bethune-Cookman’s Rebecca Goodwin.
The 2016 MEAC Bowling Championship begins Friday, March 25 at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake, Va. at 8:30 a.m. Teams will compete in traditional games to determine the seeding for day two action.
Play continues on Saturday with teams competing in a best-of-seven Baker series. The championship concludes on Sunday, March 27, with the championship final at noon and will air tape-delayed on ESPNU, April 3 at 11 p.m.
2015-16 Bowling All-MEAC Teams
As voted on by the conference’s head bowling coaches and sports information directors
Bowler of the Year: Thashaina Seraus, Maryland Eastern Shore
Rookie of the Year: Alexa Rodriguez, Norfolk State
Coach of the Year: Kayla Bandy, Maryland Eastern Shore
First Team
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
|
Thashaina Seraus
|
Maryland Eastern Shore
|
Sr.
|
Oranjestad, Aruba
|
|
Emily Strombeck
|
North Carolina A&T State
|
Sr.
|
Durham, N.C.
|
|
Mackenzie Robinson
|
North Carolina A&T State
|
Jr.
|
Detroit, Mich.
|
|
Chelsey Merklinger
|
Delaware State
|
So.
|
Kinzers, Pa.
|
|
Rebecca Goodwin
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
Sr.
|
Post Orange, Fla.
|
Second Team
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
|
Carrie Hickey
|
Norfolk State
|
r-Sr.
|
Palm Harbor, Fla.
|
|
Melanie Copey
|
Maryland Eastern Shore
|
So.
|
Ontario, N.Y.
|
|
Briana Gardner
|
Norfolk State
|
So.
|
Stone Mountain, Ga.
|
|
Moneshia Smith
|
Howard
|
Sr.
|
Irvington, N.J.
|
|
Alexa Rodriguez
|
Norfolk State
|
r.-Fr.
|
Carolina, Puerto Rico
|
Third Team
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
|
Elizabeth Burkholder
|
Delaware State
|
So.
|
Lancaster, Pa.
|
|
Ivory Miles
|
Bethune-Cookman
|
Jr.
|
Bolingbrook, Ill.
|
|
Michele Harper
|
Florida A&M
|
So.
|
DeLand, Fla.
|
|
Amber MacLeod
|
Delaware State
|
So.
|
Brick, N.J.
|
|
Stephanie Sheridan
|
Delaware State
|
Sr.
|
Factoryville, Penn.
|