The Sam Houston bowling team will enter the season ranked in the top 10 of the National Ten Pin Coaches Association preseason poll which was released Wednesday morning.
 
The Bearkats begin the year ranked in a familiar position, No. 8, where they were picked last season. Sam Houston qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the 12th year in a row in 2024-25, earning an at-large bid to the Arlington Regional.
 
National runner-up Jacksonville State topped the balloting once again, earning 14 first-place votes and 1,777 poll points to edge out Nebraska and Vanderbilt for the top spot. Youngstown State is fourth and Wichita State rounds out the Top 5 poll leaders.
 
Arkansas State held down the sixth spot, followed by North Carolina A&T, the Bearkats, Louisiana Tech and Maryville to complete the Top 10. 
 
"Year after year, we hold ourselves to the highest standards — and the results speak for themselves," SHSU head coach Brad Hagen said. "To be ranked in the top 8 or better for 15 consecutive seasons is a testament to our consistency, focus and commitment to excellence. No matter how many new faces join us, the goal remains the same, even as the path to get there continues to evolve.
 
"In a time when so much feels uncertain, we're incredibly grateful for those who stand with us — especially our loyal sponsors who've supported us through every high and low. Winning is never easy, and doing it consistently, season after season, is nothing short of organized chaos. It takes sacrifice, discipline, and relentless effort. Every season brings its own set of challenges, but we show up ready to do our jobs — because that's what it takes to get us to where we want to go."
 
The Bearkats bring in a mixture of returning and new stars to this season's squad.
 
 
Noey Sartong is coming off her best NCAA season to date where she was in the top 45 in the nation in PCPI which is the player's performance index as well as having a very solid campaign this summer at the Youth World Cup held in Helsingborg, Sweden.
 
Breana Chewens came into her own last season in her first full NCAA campaign as a transfer. She finished in the top 50 in the country in PCPI and held a top 10 Traditional scoring average.
 
Ana Gonzales had her most successful international tournament summer in her career for her home country of Peru in 2025.  Not once, but twice in a row Gonzales medaled five times in two separate events in two different countries. The most in a single international event she had won prior was three.
 
Miya Greene showed everyone last season her grit and persistence. Her best event in the fall was highlighted with her first all-tournament team at the Track Kat Klash, and she saved her best yet at the Conference USA Championships, helping the Bearkats go on a run to finish third.
 
"I believe deeply in the promise of our current women's bowling roster," Hagen said. "Breana Chewens, a senior whose veteran leadership experience and disciplined growth has helped anchor our key performances. Noey Sarntong has already shown tremendous poise, placing second in the Fort Worth Regional with 1,349 pins (out of over 180 competitors) to qualify for the Intercollegiate Singles Championships last season and was an key part of the lineup. Ana Gonzales continues to impress with her consistency and composure in tournaments, sharpening as fast as we hoped. Then there's Miya Greene, wrapping up our returnees who was a top 10 rookie with endless growth potential.  The work she put in behind the scenes will certainly make her one to watch this season as an impact player.
 
"The freshmen — Abigail Burke, Jessica Sillis, and Emily Hart — bring raw talent, fearlessness, and a hunger we've seen translate into what we hope will be rapid growth in early matches and practice metrics. Together, this group blends experience and youth, poise and energy, and I'm confident they'll continue propelling us toward greatness."
The Bearkats are also excited to welcome former star Denise Blankenzee as an assistant coach this season. As a former first-team All-America selection, she had 30 percent of her traditional games over 220 this past season, a high game of 269, and earned first in the Fort Worth Regional with 1,377 pins in the Intercollegiate Singles qualifiers. 
 
"Denise's transition from standout athlete to coach means the roster isn't just getting guidance — they're getting someone who's been there, done that, and the numbers show it," Hagen added. "Her performances under pressure, her consistency, and her understanding of what it takes will provide both veterans and newcomers alike with a powerful example and daily benchmark.
"With this confluence of proven performers, rising stars, and experienced mentorship, we're not just aiming to maintain — we're aiming to elevate. And that commitment, backed by the numbers, history, and heart, is what will carry us forward."