NORFOLK, Va. — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore bowling team was picked to finish second in the 2026-27 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Poll, announced Tuesday afternoon by the front office. Sophomore Mariane Almeida was also named to the Preseason All-Conference Team for the Hawks.

Almeida completed last year campaign averaging 18.17 points per frame while scoring 318 strikes on 822 attempts. She also converted 60.7% of her spare opportunities. 

 The 2025-26 MEAC Champions North Carolina A&T were selected as preseason favorites to capture the conference title.

The preseason team and predicted order of finish were determined by a vote of the league's head bowling coaches and sports information directors.

The Aggies earned 11 first-place votes and 88 points to claim the top spot in the preseason poll. The 2026 MEAC runner-up Maryland Eastern Shore followed in second place with 67 points, while the University of Alabama Birmingham was selected third with 66 points. Delaware State rounded out the top four with 62 points, followed by Morgan State in fifth with 45 points. Coppin State and Howard tied for sixth with 27 points apiece, while Norfolk State completed the preseason poll with 14 points.
Preseason Bowler of the Year | Victorya White, North Carolina A&T State

2026-27 Predicted Order of Finish
1. North Carolina A&T State – 88 (11)
2. Maryland Eastern Shore – 67
3. UAB – 66
4. Delaware State – 62
5. Morgan State – 45
T6. Coppin State – 27
T6. Howard – 27
8. Norfolk State – 14

First place votes in parentheses

Preseason All-Conference Team
Victorya White, North Carolina A&T State
Mariane Almeida, Maryland Eastern Shore
Amina Hall, Delaware State
Ryan Starke, Delaware State
Hannah Perry, Delaware State
Soraya Brinson, Howard