WICHITA, Kan. -- Following a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign, the Wichita State women's bowling team has moved up 10 spots in the National Tenpin Coaches Association poll to #7. The Shockers were ranked #17 in the NTCA preseason poll on October 1.

Vanderbilt moves up to the #1 spot, followed by defending national champion Jacksonville State. Nebraska, Youngstown State and Arkansas State round out the top five, with Stephen F. Austin edging out the Shockers for #6. Seven of the top eight programs are members of Conference USA, with independent Nebraska the lone outlier.

Wichita State is 22-16 through their first three tournaments of NCAA competition, not counting a title at the Mid-States Championships that is classified as an exhibition. The Shockers logged a second place finish at the season-opening Penguin Classic, sixth place at the SFA Ladyjack Classic and seventh at the Colonial Lanes Classic. Along the way, WSU picked up victories against some of the nation's top programs, including #1 Vanderbilt, #3 Nebraska, #4 Youngstown State, #6 Stephen F. Austin, #8 Sam Houston and #9 Maryville.

The Shockers have played the nation's toughest schedule, with a 64.13% opponent winning percentage and the highest average opponent pinfall. WSU owns the fourth-highest average per frame (20.244), second-highest fill percentage (86.75%) and spare percentage (74.23%) and eighth-highest strike percentage (48.58%). The Shockers have been at their best in traditional games, where they lead the nation with an 89.97% fill percentage and 78.65% spare percentage for an average pin fall of 209.4, second-best in the country.

Individually, Ashtyn Woods paces the qualified Wichita State bowlers with a frame average of 20.683, thanks in large part to a 94.0% fill percentage in traditional games that leads the nation. Piper Reams has put together a breakout senior campaign with a 203.5 game average that is top-20 nationally, while Paige Wagner has compiled a 198.0 average to rank 35th.

Wichita State returns to action following the break at the Northeast Classic on January 17-19 in New Castle, Delaware.