2017-18 Bowling Season Preview Video

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn bowling team is set to strike on the 2017-18 season this weekend at the Kutztown University Bud Whitman Invitational in Reading, Pa. The two-day tournament, featuring 19 teams, will take place from Saturday, October 14 to Sunday, October 15 at Colonial-Berks Lanes.

The Blackbirds earned the No.17 spot in the National Tenpin Coaches' Association preseason poll, and are ranked fourth in the Northeast Conference preseason poll, behind Saint Francis U., Sacred Heart and Fairleigh Dickinson, all of whom also earned a national preseason ranking.  

LIU enters the season with a collection of experience and newfound youth assembled by sixth-year head coach Kayla Jones, a former All-American during her playing days at Kutztown, where the Blackbirds traditionally kick-off the season. LIU went 67-55 last year and look to improve upon that mark beginning this weekend.

Seniors Kristina Genova and Lauren McKowen have been key contributors to a program that was a combined 31 matches over the .500 mark the past two seasons. Genova is an experienced lefty, while McKowen earned All-NEC second team honors last year for the second straight season. Alyssa Balicki and Marlee Tyler provide Jones with a complement of four seniors to go with junior Kayla Johnson and sophomore Tyler Karpinecz.

Joining the team this year are three promising freshmen, Sarah Florence, Stephanie Judkins and Kellie Frain. With a full slate ahead of them, Coach Jones is optimistic about what is in store for LIU Brooklyn bowling in 2017-18.

Following this weekend's action in Pennsylvania, the Blackbirds will bowl this season in Delaware, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and New York. The first NEC meet of the season takes place in early December in Pittsburgh, before LIU will co-host the second NEC Meet with St. Francis Brooklyn in Farmingdale, N.Y. in late February. The NEC Championships will take place March 23-25, in Howell, New Jersey.