NORFOLK, Va. – The preseason order of finish was released by the MEAC office on Thursday afternoon, and the Norfolk State bowling team finds itself sixth out of 11 teams in the annual voting.
 
The Spartans received 128 points to earn that sixth spot in the poll. New this year, the MEAC will no longer have divisions, and instead will have one set of standings incorporating all programs.
 
NSU ranked ahead of No. 7 Morgan State (106 points) but behind No. 5 Monmouth (151). North Carolina A&T (224 points), Maryland Eastern Shore (205), Delaware State (194) and UAB (170) took the top four spots. A&T also had 10 of the 22 first-place votes, with MDES (six) and Delaware State (four) accounting for another 10.
 
Monmouth and UAB joined the MEAC for bowling only beginning this season. Monmouth and Morgan State each earned one first-place vote as well.
 
Delaware State's Alexis Neuer was named the Preseason Player of the Year after capturing the player of the year award at the end of last year. She was joined on the preseason team by A&T's Ana Olaya and Cameron Strombeck, Alexandra Hernandez of MDES and Taylor Russell from UAB.
 
Voting was done by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
The Spartans begin their season on Oct. 20-21 when they host the Hampton Roads Invitational at the AMF Lanes in Chesapeake. Also new this year, the MEAC will no longer hold divisionals and instead will hold two MEAC meets before the conference championship in late March.


2018-19 Bowling Predicted Order of Finish
As voted on by the conference Head Bowling Coaches and Sports Information Directors

Predicted Order of Finish
(First place votes in parenthesis)
 

1. North Carolina A&T (10)	224 points
2. Maryland Eastern Shore (6)	205
3. Delaware State (4)	194
4. UAB	170
5. Monmouth (1)	151
6. Norfolk State	128
7. Morgan State (1)	106
8. Florida A&M	100
9. Howard	80
10. Coppin State	50
11. Bethune-Cookman	44

2018-19 Bowling Preseason All-MEAC Team

Name	School	Class	Hometown
Alexis Neuer	Delaware State	Jr.	Lewisburg, Pa.
Alexandra Hernandez	Maryland Eastern Shore	Sr.	Maracaibo, Venezuela
Ana Olaya	North Carolina A&T	So.	Bogota, Colombia
Cameron Strombeck	North Carolina A&T	So.	Durham, N.C.
Taylor Russell	UAB	Jr.	Tupelo, Miss.

Preseason Bowler of the Year: Alexis Neuer, Delaware State