NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - The Wilmington University women's bowling team picked up 14 points and is slated to finish fourth overall as the 2025-26 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Thursday.
After claiming the CACC regular-season title last year, Felician (75-34, 12-4 CACC) went on to capture its first conference championship. The Golden Falcons became the first program to represent the CACC at the NCAA National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship.
The Wildcats are coming off a 2024-25 season in which they finished third overall in the regular season, but dropped their first two matches in the CACC Tournament.
Felician received five first-place votes and 25 total points in the poll. Caldwell University, a 2024-25 CACC finalist and the league champion the previous two seasons, earned the other first-place vote and was chosen second in the poll with 20 points.
Dominican University New York was picked third with 17 points, followed by Wilmington University with 14 points. Rounding out the poll were Holy Family University (5th, eight points), and Chestnut Hill College, (6th, six points)
The CACC is in its fourth year of sponsoring women's bowling as a championship sport. The regular season begins the weekend of October 11-12. The CACC will feature a pair of regular-season tournaments in early November and late February that will determine the four teams that will advance to the postseason championship.
The 2025-26 CACC Women's Bowling Championship will be hosted by Chestnut Hill College on March 21-22 at Pike Lanes, in Southampton, Pa. The conference champion will automatically qualify for the 2026 National Collegiate Championship.
The Wildcats open 2025-26 play on Saturday, October 11, when they compete in the Bud Whitman Memorial in Deptford, New Jersey.
2025-26 CACC WOMEN'S BOWLING PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Felician University (5) 25 pts.
2. Caldwell University (1) 20
3. Dominican University New York 17
4. Wilmington University 14
5. Holy Family University 8
6. Chestnut Hill College 6