Women's Bowling | 10/2/2025 2:21:00 PM
GREENSBORO – The North Carolina A&T bowling team has a lot of new faces, but the same respect from the bowling world. The National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) released its preseason poll with the Aggies ranked seventh nationally.
The Aggies received 1,352 total points, finishing behind No. 6 Arkansas State, which secured 1,448 points. Jacksonville State took the No. 1 ranking nationally. The Gamecocks, who had their hopes of back-to-back NCAA national championships thwarted by Youngstown State, received 14 first-place votes and 1,777 points.
The University of Nebraska (seven first-place votes;1,702 points), Vanderbilt (seven first-place votes;1,680 points), and defending national champions Youngstown State (16 first-place votes;1,633 points) rounded out the top five.
A&T posted an 87-38 overall record last season. The Aggies finished ranked sixth in the final NTCA poll. The Aggies won their fifth straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular-season title during the 2024-25 season, and they secured their fifth MEAC tournament title in seven seasons. In addition, they reached the NCAA tournament's Rochester Region, where they fell just shy of reaching the Final Four.
During a marathon day, the Aggies took eventual national champion Youngstown State to a winner-take-all Baker format event during a best-of-three Mega Match. The Penguins won the best-of-seven Baker event 4-0 to win the Mega Match, 2-1. The loss ended a 10 ½ hour day at the lanes for A&T.
A few pieces are missing from that A&T team. All-MEAC performers Maya Avilez, Chloe Newberry, and Laura Garcia have exhausted their eligibility. The same goes for two-time MEAC Bowler of the Year Melanie Katen. Avilez won 2024-25 MEAC Bowler of the Year honors, MEAC tournament MVP and third-team NTCA All-American accolades. Garcia was an honorable mention NTCA All-American.
Despite losing those talented bowlers, the Aggies do bring back 2024-25 NTCA All-Rookie Team member Victorya White. White also won MEAC Rookie of the Year last season and captured NTCA third-team All-American recognition. Sophomore Jasmin Hall also had a fabulous rookie season, earning preseason All-MEAC first-team honors going into the 2025-26 season.
Tiana Cruz also showed promise during her freshman season, and Savannah Burgin returns for her third season with the program. Juliana Sams serves as the Aggies' lone senior, while five freshmen will try to do their part to keep the A&T winning tradition going.
A&T opens the season in Orlando, Fla., October 24-26, in the Destination Florida tournament hosted by Sacred Heart at AMF Sky Lanes.
