WEST LONG BRANCH,
N.J.- Monmouth women's bowling has been chosen eighth in the 2011-12
Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, league officials recently
announced.
"We are looking forward
to a competitive season and aiming to climb a few spots in the rankings," said
second-year head coach Karen Grygiel.
Grygiel will bring a roster with five newcomers against a talented NEC
field. More than half of the programs in
the talent-rich Northeast Conference found themselves consistently ranked
amongst the top-15 teams in America by the National Tenpins Coaches Association
last season. Two years ago, FDU won the NCAA national title.
Kutztown was chosen first with the most overall votes (including three first
place votes), followed by FDU who had four first place votes. Sacred Heart was third, also garnering three
first place votes, followed by New Jersey City University, Adelphi, SFNY and
Long Island. Monmouth was tied with
Saint Francis (Pa.), while Saint Peter's was picked last.
Monmouth (46-68, 8-19) made a great deal of progress in what
was the program's first season of existence. Karen Grygiel, a New Jersey native
and former standout at Vanderbilt, guided the Hawks to 46 wins last season,
including eight in the ultra-competitive NEC. The second-year head coach has
signed four freshmen to join what will be one of the youngest lineups in the
league. Lefty Lauren Lella (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) and fellow southpaw Rikki
Del Donno (Fairless Hills, PA/Pennsbury), who enters her second season at the
Jersey Shore after transferring from FDU, are the Hawks' lone upperclassmen.
Monmouth kicks off the season on Nov. 4th when
they bowl in the FDU Jamboree hosted in Elmwood Park, N.J.
2011-12 NEC Preseason
Poll
1. Kutztown (3)
2. Fairleigh
Dickinson (4)
3. Sacred Heart (3)
4. New Jersey City
5. Adelphi
6. St. Francis (NY)
7. Long Island
8. Monmouth
Saint Francis (PA)
10. Saint Peter's
