RINDGE, N.H. (October 5, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce women's bowling team was chosen 22nd in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) 2017-18 Preseason Poll and 5th in the NTCA 2017-18 DII/DIII Preseason Poll it was announced early Wednesday evening.

The Crimson and Grey were picked as the 22nd best women's bowling program in the nation and earned 87 points. In the DII/DIII rankings, Franklin Pierce was ranked 5th and chosen as the fourth best Division II team in the country. Fellow East Coast Conference (ECC) opponent Adelphi University was the only other ECC squad to receive a ranking as the Panthers ranked 15th nationally and 4th in DII/DIII.  

TO VIEW THE NTCA NATIONAL POLL CLICK HERE | TO VIEW THE NTCA DII/DII POLL CLICK HERE

Last season, the Ravens earned their highest national ranking in program history at the end of November as the 17th ranked program overall following a 1,015-900 upset victory of no. 2 nationally-ranked Stephen F. Austin at the second day of the Hawk Classic. In the ECC Championship, the Ravens matched their fourth place finish from the year before while returning senior Colleen Kelly (Quincy, Mass.) was selected to the All-Tournament Team. The Ravens also welcome back All-Conference First Team bowler Jessica Davies (Cape Coral, Fla.) and Second Team members Krysta Peirce (Casco, Mich.) and Jessica Marcure (Attleboro, Mass.).

McKendree University of Lebanon, Ill. Earned 35 of 36 first-place votes and was chosen as the no. 1 ranked team in the country. The Jennies became the first Division II program in women's bowling history to win the championship title. McKendree was unanimously chosen as the preseason favorite in the DII/DII Poll.

NCAA bowling competes as a National Collegiate sport, in which all three divisions compete for one National Championship. This year's National Championship will be held in St. Louis, Mo. It will be the first year that automatic qualifiers will take place in the sport of bowling; the six established conference winners will be added to the four schools selected at-large, who will compete for eight spots at the championship.

The Ravens open the season on Saturday, October 14 when they travel to Kutztown University for the KU Fall Bud Whitman Memorial.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce bowling apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).