(LEBANON, Ill., Oct. 3)—The McKendree University women's bowling program earned high marks in the two pre-season polls released by the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA).
 
The Bearcats grabbed the No. 2 spot in the NTCA All-Division pre-season ranking, trailing only Vanderbilt University atop the poll. McKendree received a total of six first-place votes from the ratings committee. Defending NCAA national champion Stephen F. Austin State University is right behind in third place, while the University of Nebraska and Sam Houston State University round out the top five of the all-division poll.
 
In the Division II/III pre-season listing, McKendree garnered 36 of a possible 37 first-place votes and had 770 total points in the rating. The Bearcats are one of five institutions competing as members of the Great Lakes Valley Conference who are ranked in the top 15 of poll. The University of Central Missouri is third, followed by Maryville University in fifth position. Drury University (11^th) and Lewis University (T-14^th) round out the list of GLVC programs who have earned pre-season poll recognition.
 
McKendree has qualified for each of the last four NCAA National Collegiate Bowling National Championship events, and captured the 2017 NCAA national title. The Bearcats are set to begin their 2019-20 season by hosting the Bearcat Hammer Open Oct. 25-27 at St. Clair Bowl in Fairview Heights.