Ladyjacks Check in at No. 6 Nationally in Latest NTCA Top 25

March NTCA Top 25 Poll

WHITEWATER, WIS. – For the second-straight month, the SFA bowling team has risen in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 poll. Released Wednesday afternoon, the Ladyjacks have jumped to No. 6 in the March edition of the national poll after rising from 10th to seventh in February.

Boasting a 66-37 (.641) match record in 2018-19, SFA captured its second tournament title of the season and fifth all-time by taking home first place at the inaugural Sunshine State Winter Classic (Feb. 8-10) in Orlando, Florida. For the first time in the program's 10 years of existence, the Ladyjacks went an unblemished 13-0 at a tournament and finished ahead of 13 teams, including 11 who were then ranked among the nation's top 25.

Posting three top-five finishes during the month of February, SFA went 27-12 (.692) in matches across three tournaments and claimed 24 match wins over nationally-ranked opponents.

Two Ladyjack bowlers earned tournament MVP honors during February with senior Paige Beeney being tabbed Sunshine State Winter Classic MVP and freshman Carlene Beyer taking home the top accolade at the fifth annual Stormin' Ladyjack Classic (Feb. 15-17) in Dallas. Beeney finished third among 93 total bowlers with a 212 game average in five traditional team matches, knocking down 1,060 total pins and a rolling a team-best 256 to will SFA to a victory over then ninth-ranked Tulane. Beyer became the Ladyjacks' third bowler to lay claim to a tournament MVP award this season after averaging a 214.83 score in six traditional team games at SFA's Stormin' Ladyjack Classic.

McKendree University received 34 out of 41 first-place votes in the March top-25 poll to hold onto its No. 1 ranking, while Vanderbilt received the remaining seven top-place nods to stay at No. 2 in the nation. The remaining top five teams are also unchanged from their February ranking with Nebraska checking in at No. 3, Arkansas State No. 4 and Sam Houston State No. 5.

Including SFA, seven of the Southland Bowling League's eight members appear in the latest NTCA Top 25 poll with second-ranked Vanderbilt leading the way, followed by fourth-ranked Arkansas State, fifth-ranked Sam Houston State, the sixth-ranked Ladyjacks, 12th-ranked Tulane, 23rd-ranked Louisiana Tech and 24th-ranked Youngstown State. The league's eighth team, Valparaiso, is receiving points in the March national rankings.

Up Next…
The Ladyjacks are in action this weekend for the United States Bowling Congress' (USBC) Intercollegiate Team Sectionals, held Friday through Sunday, March 8-10, at the Smyrna Bowling Center in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Ladyjack bowling throughout the winter and spring.

-SFA-

Schedule

Ladyjacks Check in at No. 6 Nationally in Latest NTCA Top 25

Players Mentioned

Paige Beeney

Carlene Beyer

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