NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The McKendree University women's bowling team is ranked No. 2 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 poll for December that was released by the organization on Friday.
 
McKendree remains at No. 2 in the December poll after posting a 21-4 overall record and finishing as runner-up at both the Bearcat Hammer Open and the MOTIV Ladyjack Hammer Classic and winning the team title at the National Collegiate Team Match Games.
 
In the December poll, the Bearcats earned three first place votes and 1,829 points to sit second behind Sam Houston State, who earned 37 first place votes and 1,975 points. The University of Nebraska, who are the defending NCAA Champions, fell from No. 1 to No. 3 in the December poll as the Huskers earned 13 first place votes and 1,825 points. The remainder of the Top 5 is North Carolina A&T (1,707 points) at No. 4 and Vanderbilt (1,559 points) at No. 5.
 
The December NTCA poll features four teams ranked from the Great Lakes Valley Conference as along with McKendree ranked No. 2, Maryville is tied for 10th with Stephen F. Austin, while Lewis University is ranked 21st and the University of Central Missouri is ranked 24th.
 
In 2020-21, McKendree, who is coached by Shannon O'Keefe, captured the inaugural GLVC title and then went on to win the Intercollegiate Team Championship (ITC) Sectional before falling in the quarterfinal round of the championship. The Bearcats earned the NCAA national title in 2017, scored a runner-up finish in both 2018 and 2019 and dropped their second and third matches to Nebraska and Arkansas State at the 2021 championships.
 
The Bearcats will open its spring semester schedule on Jan. 8-10 as they travel to Las Vegas, Nev., to compete in the 2022 Stormin' Blue & White Vegas Classic hosted by Mount St. Mary's University and held at South Point Hotel and Casino.