|
In 2010, Fairleigh Dickinson won the NCAA Women’s Bowling championship with a thrilling 4-3 win over Nebraska in the title match. The championship was historical in nature as it marked the first such title for a Northeast Conference institution in a league-sponsored sport. The Knights had previously won the NCAA crown in 2006 and reached the NCAA semifinals in 2009. Two members of the FDU team - Sara Litteral and Erica Perez - were named All-Americans by the National Tenpin Coaches Association. For Perez, it marked her fourth consecutive honor, while Litteral was recognized for the second straight year.
In just its second year sponsoring the sport in 2010-11, the NEC featured six teams ranked in the top-15 of the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll. Sacred Heart was the 2010 NEC women's bowling champion, dethroning FDU, which claimed the inaugural title in 2009. In that 2009 season, the Knights then reached the semifinals at the NCAA Championships before falling to Central Missouri, 4-3. FDU’s Tracy Ganjoin, Sara Litteral and Erica Perez were named 2009-10 All-Americans by the NTCA. Fairleigh Dickinson regained the NEC title in 2011 and advanced to the national semifinals for the seventh time in eight years. The Knights were the nation’s top-ranked team for much of the year, and that March became only the third team in the history of the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll to be tabbed a unanimous #1 selection, receiving all 27 first place votes. Four members of the FDU team - Tracy Ganjoin (first team), Danielle McEwan (first team), Joely Carrillo (third team) and Sara Littereal (third team) - were named All-Americans by the NTCA and Mike LoPresti was selected as National Division I Coach of the Year. For Litteral, it marked her fourth consecutive All-American award, while Ganjoin was honored for the second time. Joining Fairleigh Dickinson in the 2011 NCAA Women’s Bowling Tournament field was Kutztown, a first-time qualifier in the event. In just its third year sponsoring the sport, the NEC featured seven teams ranked in the top-20 of the NTCA poll during the 2010-11 campaign. In addition to top-ranked FDU, New Jersey City (reached sixth), Kutztown (seventh), Sacred Heart (ninth), Adelphi (tenth), St. Francis (NY) (11th) and Saint Peter’s (19th) were also ranked.
Two-time NCAA women’s bowling champion Fairleigh Dickinson nearly added a third title to its trophy case in 2012, coming up just short against Maryland-Eastern Shore in the national championship match. Seeded second in the field, FDU was one of the last four teams standing in the tournament for the eighth time in the last ten years. Fairleigh Dickinson was joined in the NCAA Women’s Bowling Tournament field by Sacred Heart, which won its second NEC championship in the last three years. It was the fifth appearance at nationals for the Pioneers. In just its fourth year sponsoring the sport, the NEC featured an incredible nine teams ranked in the top-20 of the NTCA poll during the 2011-12 season. In addition to top-ranked FDU, Sacred Heart (reached second), Kutztown (eighth), New Jersey City (10th), Adelphi (11th), Saint Francis (PA) (14th), Monmouth (16th), St. Francis (NY) (16th) and Saint Peter’s (20th) were also ranked. NEC women’s bowling produced four NTCA All-Americans in 2012. FDU’s Danielle McEwan was named the NTCA Division I Bowler of the Year and picked up first team All-America honors for the second straight season. McEwan was joined on the All-America team by teammate Joely Carrillo, herself a back-to-back third team honoree. Sacred Heart’s Jackie Carbonetto (first team) and Nicole Trudell (third team) also earned All-America recognition. Trudell was a second team pick a year ago.
Seeded sixth in 2013, Adelphi won its first NEC women’s bowling crown with a 4-0 sweep of fifth-seeded Saint Francis U at Parkway Lanes in Elmwood Park, NJ. Fairleigh Dickinson qualified for the NCAA Bowling Championship for the ninth time in ten years and reached the quarterfinals where the Knights fell to UMES by a 4-2 final score. FDU is a two-time national champion in the sport and has advanced to the national semis on eight occasions. Every member of the 2013 NEC Tournament field ranked among America’s Best in each edition of the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll that was released during the 2012-13 season. Fairleigh Dickinson (as high as No. 5), Adelphi (8th), Saint Francis U (10th), Kutztown (10th), Sacred Heart (12th), LIU Brooklyn (15th), New Jersey City (17th), St. Francis Brooklyn (18th) all represented the NEC in the NTCA Top-20 in 2012-13. FDU’s Danielle McEwan was named the NTCA Division I Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and earned a position on the NTCA First Team for the third consecutive season. She was also tabbed the NEC Bowler of the Year for the third straight time. McEwan was joined on the All-America team by teammate Liat Vizenfeld and Sacred Heart’s Jackie Carbonetto, both second team honorees, and third team picks Kelly Daunno of NJCU and Samantha Morlack of Adelphi. Carbonetto was a first team pick a year ago.
Fairleigh Dickinson and Saint Francis U shared the 2014 NEC regular season title, but it was the Red Flash who won their first-ever tournament championship, beating St. Francis Brooklyn, 4-0, in the finals. The meet was held at Holiday Bowl in Altoona, PA. Fairleigh Dickinson qualified for the NCAA Bowling Championship for the tenth time in 11 years and was seeded fifth at the event. FDU is a two-time national champion in the sport and has advanced to the national semis on eight occasions. Every member of the NEC women’s bowling membership ranked among America’s Best in National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) polls that were released during the 2013-14 season. Fairleigh Dickinson (as high as No. 3), Kutztown (9th), Saint Francis U (10th), Sacred Heart (12th), St. Francis Brooklyn (13th), Adelphi (13th) and LIU Brooklyn (16th) all represented the NEC in the NTCA Top-20 this past season. FDU’s Melanie Hannon and Liat Vizenfeld were tabbed NTCA First Team All-Americans, while Sacred Heart’s Nicole Trudell was named to the second team. Both Vizenfeld and Trudell are now two-time honorees. FDU’s Michelle Hunzaker, LIU Brooklyn’s Brittany Hart, and Kutztown’s Brooke Bower and Deanna DiRado were chosen as NTCA Honorable Mention All-Americans. Vizenfeld was also named as the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in her sport.
After winning its fifth straight NEC regular season title, national powerhouse Fairleigh Dickinson claimed its third NEC women’s bowling championship, defeating Sacred Heart, 4-2, in the 2015 finals. The meet was held at Howell Lanes in Howell, NJ. FDU qualified for the NCAA Bowling Championship for the 11th time in 12 years, and was seeded second at the event. The Knights fell just short of the Final Four, advancing to the third round. FDU is a two-time national champion in the sport and has advanced to the national semis on eight occasions. FDU ranked second in the country in every edition of the National Tenpins Coaches’ Association Top-20 poll that was released from December forward. Incredibly, six of the NEC’s eight women’s bowling members ranked among America’s best in NTCA polls that were released during the 2014-15 season. Along with Fairleigh Dickinson, Saint Francis U (as high as 11th), Sacred Heart (12th), LIU Brooklyn (14th), St. Francis Brooklyn (14th) and Kutztown (18th) all represented the NEC in the NTCA Top-20 this past season. FDU’s had four student-athletes recognized as All-Americans. Melanie Hannon, Nicolette Sarin and Liat Vizenfeld were tabbed NTCA Second Team All-Americans, while Karsyn Lukosius was named to the third team. Vizenfeld, a two-time NEC Bowler of the Year, finished her career as a three-time All-American honoree, while Hannon has been recognized in each of her first two years at FDU. Vizenfeld was also named as the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in her sport for the second consecutive year.
The NEC hosted its first-ever NCAA Championship this past April when the 2016 NCAA Bowling Championship came to Carolier Lanes in North Brunswick, NJ. The four-day, eightteam event concluded with Stephen F. Austin winning the national title live on ESPNU.
After winning a share of the NEC regular season title, Sacred Heart went on to win its third NEC women’s bowling championship with a 4-1 win over LIU Brooklyn in the 2016 finals. The meet was held at Howell Lanes in Howell, NJ. It was another strong season for NEC women’s bowling. Remarkably, It was another strong season for NEC women’s bowling in 2015-16. Remarkably, five of the NEC’s six bowling members were ranked among America’s best in NTCA Top-20 polls that were released during the 2015-16 season. Perennial national power Fairleigh Dickinson ranked as high as second in the country, and was joined by LIU Brooklyn (as high as 12th), Saint Francis U (12th), Sacred Heart (15th) and St. Francis Brooklyn (18th) this past season. Fairleigh Dickinson had a pair of women’s bowlers recognized by the NTCA as All-Americans. Melanie Hannon and Nicolette Sarin were tabbed Second Team All-Americans for the second straight year.
Utilizing the "Mega Match" format for the first time in 2018, Saint Francis U upended regular season champion Sacred Heart in an epic battle, winning the Baker series final, 4-3, to capture its second NEC title.
Sacred Heart won its fourth title in 2019, edging first year program Mount St. Mary's, 4-3, in Hamilton Township, NJ.
FDU and Sacred Heart renewed their longstanding rivalry in 2021 with the Knights emerging victorious for the first time since 2017 by winning two-of-three in the Mega Match finals.
Sacred Heart captured the regular season championship in 2022 and then swept three straight matches at the NEC Tournament to win the program's fifth conference crown. The repeated in 2023 as the #4 seed, winning a record sixth league title.
In just its second year sponsoring the sport, Merrimack gave us one of the great NEC Championship runs in 2023, winning all four of its matches after entering as the #4 seed for the program's first title.
FDU matched the NEC record, capturing it's sixth NEC crown in dramatic fashion in 2025, defeating Duquesne in a roll-off.
Duquesne cruised to its first NEC title in 2026, winning all three of its matches by 2-0 scores.
|