West Babylon, N.Y. – Adelphi outpaced Mercyhurst by three points to claim the top spot in the East Coast Conference women’s bowling preseason coaches' poll announced on Friday afternoon. Mercyhurst’s Samantha Strebel (Harrisville, Utah) also was announced as the ECC Preseason Bowler of the Year.
Adelphi earned five first place votes and 87 points to begin the season atop the poll favorite. The Panthers, who are also receiving votes in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Top 25 Preseason Poll, compiled a 58-36 record during the 2021-22 campaign. Six of eight student-athletes from last year’s squad that finished as ECC runner-up are back for another go-around, including All-Conference selections Kristen Derr and Blanca Fraticelli.
Mercyhurst finished right behind the Panthers with 84 points and three first place votes. The Lakers are coming off the most successful season in program history, finishing with a 65-41 record, and like Adelphi are also receiving votes in the NTCA Top 25 Preseason Poll. Mercyhurst will once again be led by Samantha Strebel and Haley Youker, both former ECC Bowler of the Year honorees.
Strebel, the reigning ECC Bowler of the Year, takes home the league’s preseason honor. In 2021-22, Strebel’s name was at or near the top of the conference leaderboard in numerous statistical categories. She led the ECC in overall frame average (19.76), 84.1 fill percentage (84.1), 47.1 strike percentage (47.1), and 70.0 spare conversion percentage (70.0). and NTCA Player Composite Performance Index (98.13 percent).
Daemen comfortably earned the No. 3 spot with 73 points. The next four teams in the poll were separated by just two points. Roberts Wesleyan was fourth with 59, followed by Kutztown with 58, and D’Youville and Molloy in a tie for sixth with 57 points.
League newcomers Bryant and Saint Anselm took the No. 8 and No. 9 spots before their debut seasons, while St. Thomas Aquinas rounded out the poll at No. 10.
Roberts Wesleyan, who were ECC Champions in 2021, and Bryant each took one first place vote a piece.
2022-23 ECC Women's Bowling Preseason Poll
| School | Pts. |
| 1. Adelphi (5) | 87 |
| 2. Mercyhurst (3) | 84 |
| 3. Daemen | 73 |
| 4. Roberts Wesleyan (1) | 59 |
| 5. Kutztown | 58 |
| T6. D'Youville | 57 |
| T6. Molloy | 57 |
| 8. Bryant (1) | 38 |
| 9. Saint Anselm | 19 |
| 10. St. Thomas Aquinas | 18 |
() - first place votes
Preseason Bowler of the Year: Samantha Strebel, Sr., Mercyhurst
