The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Ranked No. 16 in NTCA Preseason Poll
10/3/2018 5:24:00 PM | Women's Bowling
BIRMINGHAM – The UAB bowling team will enter its first season as members of the MEAC with a national ranking as the Blazers have been voted the No. 16 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Preseason Poll, the national organization announced on Wednesday afternoon.
UAB ended its historic 2017-18 campaign ranked 16th in the NTCA polls and was ranked as high as No. 13 during the season. The Blazers wrapped up the year with their first-ever trip to the USBC Intercollegiate Team National Championship.
"This ranking is a true testament to the hard work that our girls put in last season and I could not be happier for them," head coach Michelle Crews said. "That said, being ranked in the preseason poll is not something that we will take lightly. We know that we will have to continue to work hard every time we are on the lanes to maintain our position and move up in the rankings."
The Blazers are one of five MEAC schools to make an appearance in the preseason poll, joining Maryland Eastern Shore (No. 7), Delaware State (No. 8), North Carolina A&T (No. 11) and Monmouth (No. 23). Norfolk State also received points in the preseason voting.
Ahead of its season opener on October 19 at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Bowling Tournament, UAB was voted to finish in fourth place in the MEAC and saw its first All-Preseason Team selection in Taylor Russell.
Russell took home two All-Tournament honors last season and claimed the individual title at the Hornet Classic, where she helped guide the team to a first place finish of its own. For her efforts, Russell became the first Blazer in program history to garner National Tenpin Coaches Associate (NTCA) Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Caitlin Cunningham also brings some depth to the squad after her big summer, where she claimed seven gold medals and one bronze medal at the 56th Annual Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas in Plantation, Florida.
UAB returns its entire squad from the historic 2017-18 season and adds three newcomers for the upcoming campaign.
For more information on the UAB bowling team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Bowl) or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/UABBowling2011).
UAB ended its historic 2017-18 campaign ranked 16th in the NTCA polls and was ranked as high as No. 13 during the season. The Blazers wrapped up the year with their first-ever trip to the USBC Intercollegiate Team National Championship.
"This ranking is a true testament to the hard work that our girls put in last season and I could not be happier for them," head coach Michelle Crews said. "That said, being ranked in the preseason poll is not something that we will take lightly. We know that we will have to continue to work hard every time we are on the lanes to maintain our position and move up in the rankings."
The Blazers are one of five MEAC schools to make an appearance in the preseason poll, joining Maryland Eastern Shore (No. 7), Delaware State (No. 8), North Carolina A&T (No. 11) and Monmouth (No. 23). Norfolk State also received points in the preseason voting.
Ahead of its season opener on October 19 at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Bowling Tournament, UAB was voted to finish in fourth place in the MEAC and saw its first All-Preseason Team selection in Taylor Russell.
Russell took home two All-Tournament honors last season and claimed the individual title at the Hornet Classic, where she helped guide the team to a first place finish of its own. For her efforts, Russell became the first Blazer in program history to garner National Tenpin Coaches Associate (NTCA) Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Caitlin Cunningham also brings some depth to the squad after her big summer, where she claimed seven gold medals and one bronze medal at the 56th Annual Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas in Plantation, Florida.
UAB returns its entire squad from the historic 2017-18 season and adds three newcomers for the upcoming campaign.
For more information on the UAB bowling team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Bowl) or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/UABBowling2011).
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Bowling
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