The National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) unveiled its 2019-20 Preseason Top 25 poll on Tuesday, and five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) programs were ranked.

Defending MEAC champion -- and 2019 NCAA semifinalist -- Maryland Eastern Shore is the highest-ranked program in the conference, coming in at No. 7. North Carolina A&T State, the 2018 MEAC champion which fell in the final to Maryland Eastern Shore last season, is ranked No. 8.

Delaware State (15th), as well as associate members UAB (19th) and Monmouth (25th) were also ranked.

Vanderbilt was ranked No. 1 heading into the 2019-20 season, while defending national champion Stephen F. Austin was ranked third.

The 2019-20 bowling season will begin the weekend of Oct. 11-13. The first MEAC meet of the season will be the weekend of Nov. 8-10; Maryland Eastern Shore is the preseason favorite to win the MEAC, and reigning conference Bowler of the Year Cayla Hicks was voted last week as the MEAC Preseason Bowler of the Year.

The 2020 MEAC Bowling Championship will be held at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake, Va., March 20-22.