BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn bowling team kicks off the 2016-17 season this weekend at the Kutztown Invitational in Reading, Pa. The two-day tournament, featuring 19 teams, will take place from Saturday, October 15 to Sunday, October 16 at Berks Lane.
The Blackbirds earned the No.13 spot in the National Tenpin Coaches' Association preseason poll, the highest preseason ranking for the program ever. LIU was the second-highest of five ranked Northeast Conference teams, just behind Fairleigh Dickinson's No.10 spot.
LIU is led by fifth-year head coach Kayla Jones, who has successfully led the Blackbirds to four-straight NEC Tournaments, including a championship match appearance last season. LIU went 74-55 in 2015-16, including earning the program's highest-ever national ranking of 12th midway though the year. The Blackbirds were also runners up at the NEC Tournament, starting the event with a perfect 4-0 record, before falling to Sacred Heart in the championship match.
"The girls have worked very hard since the end of last season to continue our success in the program," Jones said. "Last season did not end how we had planned, but with time we have reflected, and are ready to take our team to the next level."
The Blackbirds return almost their entire roster, including second-team All-NEC honorees junior leftie Kristina Genova and junior Lauren McKowen. McKowen and Genova led LIU last season, with 195.7 and 194 traditional averages respectively. The two lead an experience squad, including seniors Madison Lukosius (187.5 average), Tori Burkins (181.7) and Victoria Shufelt (185.3), and juniors Alyssa Balicki (192) and Marlee Tyler (162.7). Sophomore sophomore Kayla Johnson (186) rounds out the returning upperclassmen that Jones has to work with.
"We return eight out of nine from last year's roster, with seven of them having at least two years of competition under their belt," Jones said. "This brings a lot of experience to the tournaments, and will be useful in situations that we plan to see this year. Each girl brings something different to the team, but they mesh very well together. With communication and understanding, they have endless possibilities."
Joining the promising squad is freshman, Tyler Karpinecz, who joins the Blackbirds from Woodbridge, N.J.
"Tyler is our only incoming bowler this season," said Jones. "She has been working hard and has jumped right into the swing of things. She works well with our returners, and is ready to help with the goals we have established and the culture we are continuing to build."
With a full slate ahead of them, Coach Jones is optimistic about what is in store for LIU Brooklyn Bowling in 2016-17.
"This year's schedule is similar to last year, and is the best schedule we have had in program history," Jones said. "We will continue to compete against the best of the best, and have the opportunity to take our team to the next level. The focus, determination, and hard work that all nine have been putting is a great outlook for the coming season."