The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Bowling to Join the MEAC Conference
6/19/2018 12:48:00 PM | Women's Bowling
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Coming off its most successful season in program history, the UAB bowling team will join the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) next season, the league office announced on Tuesday.
UAB joins Monmouth as the 10th and 11th members of the MEAC bowling conference along with Norfolk State, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Delaware State, Howard, Bethune-Cookman and Coppin State.
"We are honored and excited to join the MEAC and want to thank Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas for this opportunity," UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. "Having a conference affiliation will allow our program to compete nationally on a larger scale while vying for championships year-in and year-out. This is a fantastic partnership and the future is bright for UAB Bowling."
By joining the MEAC, the Blazers are now eligible for one of the six automatic bids for the eight team NCAA Championship, held annually in March. UAB will also remain in contention for the final two at-large bids as well.
"Today is the biggest moment in the history of the program," head coach Michelle Crews said. "Over five years ago we found out the landscape of NCAA bowling was going to change for the 2017-18 season with the addition of qualifiers. While there was some uncertainty as to how exactly the changes would be implemented we were informed that conferences would be a big component as to who would get the automatic qualifiers.
"We have been working hard on joining a conference since our reinstatement. After all of the hard work and everything our program has been though to finally have this tangible opportunity at obtaining an automatic qualifier to the NCAA National Championship is such an unreal feeling."
The Blazers finished the historic 2017-18 season as the No. 16 team in the country after posting a 60-41 record with two top-five finishes. UAB made history by advancing to the USBC Intercollegiate Team National Championship for the first time in program history.
"I am grateful to Mark Ingram and Dan Carlson for their support in pursuing this amazing opportunity for our players and our program as well as for Katreshia Louis-Verrett," Crews said. "Since her arrival this past fall her hard work and prior relationships with the MEAC have helped us understand about how to go about this correctly and be most successful in gaining this opportunity.
"We are also thankful for the administration and coaches at the MEAC for the open mindedness and willingness to allow us to obtain this affiliate membership. We are so excited to join forces and represent one of the first NCAA bowling conference and one of the most competitive and successful leagues in the NCAA bowling."
With sights sets on another historic run, the Blazers return all 11 members from last season's squad and welcome three additional members.
For more information on the UAB bowling team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Bowl) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABBowling2011).
UAB joins Monmouth as the 10th and 11th members of the MEAC bowling conference along with Norfolk State, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State, Delaware State, Howard, Bethune-Cookman and Coppin State.
"We are honored and excited to join the MEAC and want to thank Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas for this opportunity," UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said. "Having a conference affiliation will allow our program to compete nationally on a larger scale while vying for championships year-in and year-out. This is a fantastic partnership and the future is bright for UAB Bowling."
By joining the MEAC, the Blazers are now eligible for one of the six automatic bids for the eight team NCAA Championship, held annually in March. UAB will also remain in contention for the final two at-large bids as well.
"Today is the biggest moment in the history of the program," head coach Michelle Crews said. "Over five years ago we found out the landscape of NCAA bowling was going to change for the 2017-18 season with the addition of qualifiers. While there was some uncertainty as to how exactly the changes would be implemented we were informed that conferences would be a big component as to who would get the automatic qualifiers.
"We have been working hard on joining a conference since our reinstatement. After all of the hard work and everything our program has been though to finally have this tangible opportunity at obtaining an automatic qualifier to the NCAA National Championship is such an unreal feeling."
The Blazers finished the historic 2017-18 season as the No. 16 team in the country after posting a 60-41 record with two top-five finishes. UAB made history by advancing to the USBC Intercollegiate Team National Championship for the first time in program history.
"I am grateful to Mark Ingram and Dan Carlson for their support in pursuing this amazing opportunity for our players and our program as well as for Katreshia Louis-Verrett," Crews said. "Since her arrival this past fall her hard work and prior relationships with the MEAC have helped us understand about how to go about this correctly and be most successful in gaining this opportunity.
"We are also thankful for the administration and coaches at the MEAC for the open mindedness and willingness to allow us to obtain this affiliate membership. We are so excited to join forces and represent one of the first NCAA bowling conference and one of the most competitive and successful leagues in the NCAA bowling."
With sights sets on another historic run, the Blazers return all 11 members from last season's squad and welcome three additional members.
For more information on the UAB bowling team follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_Bowl) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABBowling2011).
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