WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita State women's bowling is ranked #5 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association 2025-2026 Preseason Coaches Poll announced Wednesday.

The Shockers earned 1540 points in the poll, trailing fellow Conference USA schools Jacksonville State (1777), Nebraska (1702), Vanderbilt (1680) and defending NCAA champion Youngstown State (1633). CUSA boasts eight of the top nine vote-getters, with North Carolina A&T out of the MEAC at #7 representing the only exception.

The full NTCA poll can be viewed HERE.

Youngstown State earned the most first-place votes with 16, edging out national runner-up Jacksonville State's 14. Nebraska and Vanderbilt each earned seven first place votes.

Wichita State was tabbed #17 in last year's preseason poll but rolled to an 87-38 record in their debut NCAA season. Head coach Holly Harris led the Shockers to tournament wins at the Mid-States Championships, Columbia 300 Saints Invite and Mid-Winter Invitational before a incredible run through the CUSA Championship bracket, where WSU won seven straight Mega Matches to claim the title. Wichita State kept the momentum going into the NCAA tournament with a dominant 3-0 showing at the Lansing Regional, earning a spot in the Final Four in Las Vegas. The Shockers quest for a national championship fell short with losses to Jacksonville State and Nebraska.

Harris, the 2024-25 NTCA Coach of the Year, returns a loaded roster that features three All-Americans in Sara Duque Jiménez, Ashtyn Woods and Paige Wagner, plus returners Morgan Kline, Aleesha Oden, Beau Anderson and Madi Phillips. Harris also signed three freshmen: Kendall Bollea, Erica DeBello, Alena McDugle following the graduation of seniors Chloe Ciecko, Piper Reams and Mary Orf.

The Shockers open the season at the Mid-States Championships on October 18-19 in Wichita before kicking off the regular season in earnest at the Destination Orlando tournament on October 24-26, hosted by Sacred Heart. Eight of the nine road tournaments are hosted by teams ranked in the NTCA coaches poll, including seven tournaments hosted by teams ranked in the top 11. The full 2025-26 schedule can be viewed HERE.