UMES REGAINS TOP SPOT IN THE NATION G. STAN BRADLEY 03/17/10 Lady Hawks earn number one ranking for the first time since the 2009 season. HACKENSACK, N.J.-It took 16 months, but the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Women's Bowling Team has regained the number one ranking in the nation. The March poll of the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) featured a record breaking 21 members voting and eight of them cast the Lady Hawks as the first place team. Those eight votes, along with the other 13 voters gave UMES 566 total points and the top spot in the poll. The move up is due to the recent play of the maroon and gray. They posted three straight tournament wins, collecting wins over many of the nation's top programs. They took home the hardware at the Lady Bulldog Classic, the Kutztown Invite and the Mid-Winter Classic. They took second place at the Holiday Classic, third at the Morgan State Invite and just won the USBC Chattanooga Sectional. The Hawks dethroned Vanderbilt who was the previous number one team. The Commodores collected eight first place votes themselves, but amassed 560 points, six shy of the UMES total. The Lady Hawk's schedule is one of the busiest in the nation as they sport an overall record of 93-26. That is 11 more wins than rival Delaware State. Both schools bowl a grueling Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule in addition to several other national tournaments. The Hornets fell to fifth in the current poll after being third last month. Adelphi is the next closet in total wins with 72. They are ninth in the poll, two spots down from the previous balloting. Moving into third place is Fairleigh Dickinson University who was fourth last time out. They received 519 points and four first place votes. Nebraska, the reigning National Champs, climbed back into the top five, posting a fourth place mark after being eighth in the February poll. They garnered two first place votes. Fellow conference schools, Florida A&M, Norfolk State and Morgan State rounded out the final three spots of the poll. NTCA voters rank the top 20 teams on their ballot. Each position has a designated point value, ranging from 32 points for first place and one point for twentieth place. Teams are ranked using the adjusted total point standings, after the highest and lowest votes are dropped.