Saturday, February 11, 2012

Valparaiso remained among the top squads in the nation with the release of the February National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) coaches poll on Saturday, as the Crusaders came in ranked #3 nationally.

Valpo, which had been ranked #1 in the nation in the last version of both the media poll and the coaches poll, took the third spot with 622 points and received four first-place votes.  Fairleigh Dickinson (67-15) ascended to #1 and earned 21 first-place votes, while Sacred Heart (47-14) took one first-place vote and is ranked #2 nationally.  Arkansas State (48-16) and Maryland Eastern Shore (62-22) round out the top-five teams.

Valparaiso (57-22) returns to the lanes in two weekends, heading to the Holiday Classic in Bessemer, Ala., hosted by #17 Alabama A&M.