No. 3 Kats Open Season At Tulane Event
10/16/2014 10:59:00 AM | Women's Bowling
The Bearkat women's bowling team starts the defense of its 2014 NCAA Division I national championship this weekend as the squad heads to the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Bowling Invitational hosted by Tulane in Kenner, La.
Sam Houston has opened its bowling season at Tulane each of the past two seasons. The Bearkats went 11-1 to win the tournament title in 2012, defeating No. 2 ranked Arkansas State in the finals. Last year, the SHSU women were runners-up, falling to Stephen F. Austin in seven Baker matches in the finals.
Head coach Brad Hagen is excited about getting the season started and having the opportunity to see the four newcomers on his 2014-15 squad in action.
“It's always exciting to get the season started,” Hagen said. “We have four new players on this year's squad and each of them looks to contribute.”
Newcomers on the squad include freshmen Emily Notebart, Heather Penatzer and Stephanie Zavala and transfer Carrie Hopkinson. Returning from the team that won the NCAA title in Cleveland last April are Erin Brown, Anna Groce, Jana Kuwahara and Becca Pittzer.
Sam Houston opens the season ranked No. 3 in the National Ten Pin Coaches Association (NTCA) preseason national rankings.
Nebraska, national champions in 2013, has been picked No. 1 in the preseason poll. Arkansas State is the No. 2 pick. The Cornhuskers received 11 first place votes. Sam Houston earned seven first place votes, Arkansas State four and No. 4 ranked Vanderbilt one vote.
The No. 3 NTCA preseason ranking is Sam Houston's highest in the four-year history of the program. Sam Houston was No. 6 in the 2012-13 preseason poll.
Since cracking the top 10 in December of the Bearkats' inaugural season in 2010-11, Sam Houston has never been ranked outside the top 10. Sam Houston was the No. 1 team in the 2013-14 final poll.
