NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. (Sept. 30)- The Saint Vincent women's bowling team was picked first in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Pre-Season poll released by the conference this morning.

Under veteran Head Coach and reigning AMCC Coach of the Year Jeff Zidek, the Bearcats are the reigning champions of the AMCC. Last season, Saint Vincent won their first ever AMCC Conference championship, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. 

Additionally, junior Skyy Nicholls and sophomore Mareana Pilyih were named to the players to watch list.

Nicholls is coming off an All-AMCC First Team selection as a sophomore. The junior averaged 186.7 last season, leading the team in strike percentage (46.7%), while finishing second in the AMCC in scoring in conference play (188.3).

Pilyih is the reigning NCBCA National Rookie of the Year as well as the NTCA National D3 Rookie of the Year as well. As a freshman, she led SVC in scoring (191.3) with a 40.7% strike percentage. Pilyih made 84.9% of makeable spares, 90.7% on single pins.

The Bearcats open their season on Saturday, October 11, competing in the Grapevine Classic in Erie. The tournament is set to begin at 1 PM on the 11th.