NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State women's bowling team will open the 2023 MEAC Bowling Championships on Friday morning against No. 2 seed Maryland Eastern Shore.
 
The meeting will take place in Virginia Beach at Pinboy's at the Beach, starting at 9 a.m. Norfolk State received the No. 7 seed.
 
If the Spartans win their first-round matchup, they will face the winner of No. 3 seed Monmouth and No. 6 seed Coppin State's matchup at 2 p.m. If they lose against UMES, they will play an elimination match against the loser of Coppin State-Monmouth at the same time.
 
In last season's MEAC Bowling Championships, Norfolk State went 1-2. The Spartans lost their opening match against Howard 2-1, but stepped up to the occasion with a 2-0 elimination win over Coppin State later that day.
 
Norfolk State faced No. 6 seed UAB in the following round, falling 2-0 with a back-and-forth second game making the difference.
 
This year's tournament will be primarily held in Mega Match format, meaning each match will feature a best-of-three format with five-person team play followed by Baker total pinfall and Baker best-of-seven as the tiebreaker.
 
The only exception will be the championship matchup, which will follow the best-of-seven baker format.
 
The competition will be open to the public for the entire weekend. ESPNU will re-air the championship match on Monday, April 3 at 6 p.m.