Wright State Bowling Ranked No. 11 in NTCA Preseason Poll

DAYTON, Ohio – Wright State University women's bowling is ranked No. 11 in the 2026-27 NTCA Preseason Coaches Poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history.

The Raiders received 779 points from the 38 NCAA head coaches who voted in the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) poll, released Oct. 1. Wright State moved up two spots from its No. 13 position in the final poll of the 2025-26 season and leads the second 10 of the rankings, 15 points ahead of No. 12 Newman University.

Defending NCAA champion Jacksonville State University was the unanimous No. 1, followed by Vanderbilt University, Wichita State University, Arkansas State University and the University of Nebraska. Wright State is one of 11 Conference USA programs in the preseason Top 25 and one of nine league members in the top 11.

A Rapid National Rise

The preseason ranking caps a fast climb for Wright State bowling, which enters just its fifth season of NCAA Division I competition. The Raiders earned their first national ranking in the NTCA February 2025 Coaches Poll as an independent, then joined Conference USA for the 2025-26 season.

In their first year in the league, the Raiders reached a program-best No. 9 in the February 2026 NTCA poll and No. 9 in the NCAA Rating Percentage Index, and stayed in contention for an NCAA Championship bid deep into the season. Wright State won its own Raider Classic in November and recorded five top-five finishes by mid-February.

Veteran Roster Built in Ohio

Five seniors lead Wright State's 10-bowler roster: Alli Shattuck of Cincinnati, Mia Sayles of Bay Village, Emma Hatfield of Centerville, Jasmine Schulze of Coldwater and Rylie Jeanneret of Wapakoneta. The lineup also includes junior Addy Meshew (Wooster), sophomores Dottie Sayles (Bay Village), Kaylie Hoff (Englewood) and Kylie Fisher (Wilmington), and freshman Ali Bell (Georgetown). Every bowler on the roster is an Ohio native.
Head coach Jeff Fleck is in his 22nd season leading Wright State bowling.

"It is an honor to be voted 11th in the preseason poll by the coaches," Fleck said. "This truly means a lot to our team. We have worked hard to be competitive with the best in the country. We are excited to start the season with our veteran team and continue to represent Wright State on the national stage."

2026-27 Wright State Bowling Schedule Highlights

Wright State opens the season Oct. 16-18 at the Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic at Holiday Bowl in Struthers, Ohio. The Raiders host their annual Raider Classic, their lone home event, Nov. 21-22 at Beaver Vu Bowl in Beavercreek, Ohio.

The 13-event schedule builds toward the Conference USA Championship, March 17-21, 2027, at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Neb., and the NCAA Bowling Championship, April 6-10, 2027, at Mt. Lebanon Lanes in Pittsburgh.
See the complete 2026-27 NTCA Preseason Coaches Poll. Follow Wright State bowling at WSURaiders.com and on Twitter, Meta, and Instagram.

About Wright State Bowling

Wright State University women's bowling competes in NCAA Division I as a member of Conference USA. Led by head coach Jeff Fleck, now in his 22nd season, the Raiders earned their first national ranking in February 2025 and reached a program-best No. 9 in the NTCA Coaches Poll in February 2026. Wright State hosts the annual Raider Classic in Beavercreek, Ohio.

Rising Raiders

Rising Raiders provides free admission to Wright State home events for students currently enrolled in 12th grade or younger, making it easier for families across the Dayton region to experience Raider Athletics together. It's our way of opening the doors to the next generation and giving young fans the opportunity to discover Wright State, build memories, and become Raiders themselves.