NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt bowling enters the 2019-20 season as the nation’s top-ranked team, according to the National Tenpin Coaches Association.
In the preseason poll of the nation’s head coaches, the Commodores drew 18 of the 46 first-place votes to top second-place Stephen F. Austin and third-place McKendree.
Vanderbilt returns an experienced roster, the nucleus of which has finished third, first and second, respectively in the last three NCAA Championships. The Commodores expect to be led by 2019 NCAA Player of the Year Maria Bulanova, a pair of third-team All-Americans – Adel Wahner and Samantha Gainor – and senior Emily Rigney, the co-MVP of the 2018 NCAA Championships
“It is nice to be recognized by your peers,” Vanderbilt head coach John Williamson said. “But this is a new year with a new team. We just started practice this week so we have lots of work to do on the lanes and in blending together as a team.
“This ranking further places a target on our back and we know we’ll get everyone’s best punch. We will look forward to those challenges.”
The Commodores led the nation in wins a season ago by compiling a 101-37 record while winning five tournaments. Kristin Quah and Jordan Newham were the program’s lone graduation losses from that unit.
Four of the top six ranked teams in the poll are from the powerful Southland Bowling League – Vanderbilt, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State (fifth) and Arkansas State (sixth).
The Commodores open their season Oct. 18 at the Tulane Tournament.
