Women’s Bowling Picked Ninth In ECC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

West Babylon, N.Y. – With Arthur O’Connor entering his first full season as head coach and a slew of new faces set to join the roster, the Adelphi University women’s bowling team has been picked to finish ninth in the 2023-24 ECC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league office announced Friday afternoon.

The ‘Cats went through a tough transition last winter. O’Connor took the reins in late-December, after Dennis Kearney’s nine-year tenure as head coach suddenly ended mid-season.

Ultimately, the Panthers finished the 2022-23 season at 15-53 overall, winning the fewest matches in program history.

Usually situated among the league’s preseason favorites, Adelphi earned 25 points to place ninth out of 10 teams in the poll.

Mercyhurst topped this year’s rankings, amassing eight first-place votes and 98 total points. Molloy and Daemen received first-place tallies, as well.

As eight new bowlers come into the fold for O’Connor’s squad, Blanca Fraticelli is set to play one final season with her Adelphi teammates.  

O’Connor and the Panthers will begin the season in just a couple weeks at the Bud Whitman Memorial (Oct. 14-15), hosted by Chestnut Hill College in New Castle, Del.

2023-24 ECC Women’s Bowling Preseason Poll

1. Mercyhurst (Eight First-Place Votes) – 98 Points

2. Molloy (One First-Place Vote) – 79 Points

T-3. Daemen (One First-Place Vote) – 75 Points

T-3. Kutztown – 75 Points

5. Roberts Wesleyan – 55 Points

6. D’Youville – 52 Points

7. Bryant – 49 Points

8. Saint Anselm – 30 Points

9. Adelphi – 25 Points

10. St. Thomas Aquinas – 12 Points