Bowling | 9/25/2024 3:00:00 PM
NORFOLK, Va., September 25, 2024 – North Carolina A&T State senior Maya Avilez has been named the 2024-25 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Bowler of the Year, as the Aggies are the preseason favorites to claim the championship title.
The preseason team and predicted order of finish were voted on by the league’s head bowling coaches and sports information directors.
Avilez received MEAC All-Conference accolades a season ago as the Aggies made yet another appearance in the NCAA Bowling National Championship Tournament. In 1,166 total frames bowled last year, she averaged 20.65 pins per frame and had an overall fill of 86.1%. She had a strike percentage of 52.5 and converted 88.9% of her single-pin spares.
The Aggies finished as the runners-up at the 2024 MEAC Championship, receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament after ranking No. 4 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 poll. NCAT returns reigning MEAC Coach of the Year Kim Terrell-Kearney and all-conference honorees Melanie Katen and Chloe Newberry.
N.C. A&T State received 14 of a possible 16 first-place votes and ended up with 124 points in the preseason poll. The reigning MEAC Champion, Maryland Eastern Shore (two first-place votes), was second with 109 points, followed by Delaware State (93 points), University of Alabama Birmingham (72 points), and Morgan State (68) to round out the top five.
The rest of the preseason poll was Howard (46), Norfolk State (33), and Coppin State (31).
Joining Avilez on the Preseason All-MEAC Team are fellow Aggies Katen and Newberry, Maryland Eastern Shore’s Mariana Santos, and Delaware State’s Sydney Reardon.
The 2025 MEAC Bowling Championship will be held in Raleigh, N.C., at the Buffaloe Lanes North Family Bowling Center, Friday through Sunday, March 21-23, 2025.
MEAC Bowling Preseason Honors
As voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors
MEAC Preseason Player of the Year – Maya Avilez, North Carolina A&T State
MEAC Preseason Bowling All-Conference Team
Name, School
Maya Avilez, North Carolina A&T
Chloe Newberry, North Carolina A&T
Mariana Santos, Maryland Eastern Shore
Sydney Reardon, Delaware State
Melanie Katen, North Carolina A&T
| Order of Finish |
| School |
Points |
| North Carolina A&T |
124 (14) |
| Maryland Eastern Shore |
109 (2) |
| Delaware State |
93 |
| UAB |
72 |
| Morgan State |
68 |
| Howard |
46 |
| Norfolk State |
33 |
| Coppin State |
31 |