ELMHURST, Ill. — Two-time defending Southland Bowling League champion Vanderbilt is ranked second in preseason polling by the National Ten Pin Coaches Association (NTCA).
The Commodores received five first-place votes from the panel of 36 head coaches and trail only defending national champion McKendree.
Vandy returns a host of talented veterans, including Mabel Cummins, as well as last season’s NCAA Rookie of the Year Paige Peters and a strong junior class from a team that won its 2021 NCAA Regional and advanced to the Final Four.
Vanderbilt also added three freshmen to its roster, all of whom have the potential of contributing over the season.
McKendree received 23 of the 36 first-place votes in a poll that reflects the growing balance and depth of the sport’s talent pool.
McKendree, which defeated Stephen F. Austin in last year’s national championship match, returns seven of its top 10 bowlers. Nebraska was third, Stephen F. Austin fourth and Sam Houston was fifth giving the Southland three teams among the top five.
Arkansas State, North Carolina A&T, Louisiana Tech, Youngstown State and Fairleigh Dickinson, respectively, round out the top 10 of the poll.