Dec. 23, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt, winner of all three events it has entered this season, was ranked as the No. 1 team by the National Tenpins Coaches Association’s second national poll of the season.
The Commodores (36-5) own the nation’s top winning percentage at .878 and have won their last 16 straight matches. Vanderbilt, which received 18 out of a possible 20 first place votes, won championships at the 12-team FDU Fright Knight Invite in Elmwood Park, NJ; the 20-team UMES Hawk Classic in Millsboro, DE; and the 19-team St. Paul’s Invitational in Richmond, VA since the start of the season.
“This is a nice acknowledgement from the coaches,” says Commodore Coach John Williamson. “But we also realize from past experience that being rated No. 1 means every team has an extra incentive to perform well against us. I am not so sure we handled the top rating well the last time. Right now our thoughts are more about controlling what we can control and not focus on things we can’t.”
Nebraska, Fairleigh Dickinson, Delaware State and Maryland-Eastern Shore round out the top five.
2008-09 NTCA DECEMBER NATIONAL POLL
1. Vanderbilt University (36-5-0): 573 votes (18 first place votes)
2. University of Nebraska (30-9-0): 509 (2)
3. Fairleigh Dickinson University (41-7-0): 488
4. Delaware State University (46-15-0): 422
5. Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore (46-15-0): 384
6. Arkansas State University (27-10-0): 376
7. New Jersey City University (30-12-0): 340
8. Kutztown University (31-11-0): 327
9. University of Central Missouri (27-14-0): 278
10. Alabama A&M University (26-12-0): 205
