Ladyjacks Rise To Fifth In Latest NTCA Coaches Poll
3/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Bowling
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Coming off some strong performances over the last few weeks, Stephen F. Austin has jumped three spots in the latest National Tenpin Coaches Association poll, checking in at number five for the March poll. SFA had spent the previous two polls ranked eighth nationally.
The Ladyjacks accumulated 743 votes, seeing the biggest jump of any team among the top-15. SFA is 82 points behind fourth-place Sam Houston State while holding a 33 point edge on fifth-place Central Missouri.
SFA has compiled a 68-35 record on the year and has finished in the top-10 in each of its eight events on the season, extending its streak of top-10 team finishes to 29-straight tournaments. The Ladyjacks are coming off a third-place showing at the UW-Whitewater Warhawk classic on Feb. 19-21 and last weekend finished fourth at the USBC Sectionals, qualifying for the USBC Intercollegiate Team Championships for the fifth-straight season.
Nebraska reclaimed the top overall spot, garnering 973 points with 19 first place votes to leapfrog number two Arkansas State who tallied 919 points and five first place votes. Vanderbilt sits third (900 pts.) with Sam Houston State (825 pts.) joining the Ladyjacks in the top-five. Central Missouri, McKendree, North Carolina A&T, Fairleigh Dickinson and Wisconsin-Whitewater round out the top-10.
SFA now preps for its final regular season tournament of the season, heading to Smyrna, Tennessee, for the 2016 Vanderbilt Music City Classic March 18-20. It will serve as the final warmup before the Southland Bowling League Championships March 26-27 in Kenner, Louisiana, as the Ladyjacks make a final push to once again qualify for the NCAA Championships in April.
NTCA Top-25 Poll | March 2016
1. Nebraska (19) – 973 pts.
2. Arkansas State (5) – 919 pts.
3. Vanderbilt (2) – 900 pts.
4. Sam Houston State (1) – 825 pts.
5. Stephen F. Austin – 743 pts.
6. Central Missouri – 710 pts.
7. McKendree – 655 pts.
8. North Carolina A&T – 607 pts.
9. Fairleigh Dickinson – 589 pts.
10. Wisconsin-Whitewater – 565 pts.
11. Maryland-Eastern Shore – 457 pts.
12. LIU-Brooklyn – 405 pts.
13. Delaware State – 393 pts.
14. St. Francis (Pa.) – 326 pts.
15. Kutztown – 265 pts.
16. Sacred Heart – 217 pts.
17. Monmouth – 195 pts.
18. St. Francis (N.Y.) – 183 pts.
19. Tulane – 158 pts.
20. Norfolk State – 146 pts.
21. Adelphi – 127 pts.
22. Valparaiso – 107 pts.
23. Elmhurst – 104 pts.
24. Prairie View A&M – 69 pts.
25. Jackson State – 23 pts.
-SFA-
