(LEBANON, Ill., March 6)—The McKendree University women's bowling team maintained the top spot in the March 2019 rankings of the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Division poll. The NTCA released its latest rating on Wednesday.
 
The Bearcats amassed 34 first-place votes in the poll and a total of 1,542 points in the ranking. The rating included all events through Feb. 25. Since that time, McKendree won the Big Red Invitational hosted by the University of Nebraska. The Bearcats defeated the host Huskers in the finals to capture their third tournament of the 2018-19 season.
 
Vanderbilt University was the only other program to receive first-place votes in the March NTCA ranking and sits in the No. 2 spot in the poll. Nebraska, Arkansas State University and Sam Houston State University rounds out the top five.
 
McKendree, which has a season dual match record of 73-27, will return to NCAA action March 15-17 at the Columbia 300 Music City Classic. Vanderbilt will host the three-day tournament at the Smyrna Bowling Center in Smyrna, Tenn.