Erie, Pa. - After winning their second-straight ECC title this past weekend, the Lakers made history once again as their name was announced in the NCAA Selection Show on Wednesday afternoon for the second consecutive season. Mercyhurst now travels to Pittsburgh, PA for the first round on Friday, April 5th, 2024. The Lakers will first take on Jacksonville State. 

Now proving to be a well-established program under the direction of head coach, Mike Machuga, the Mercyhurst Bowling team now looks to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament to solidify themselves as a powerhouse. Coach Machuga commented that "it's just bowling, and we are capable of so much more than what we have already done, and the girls just keep getting better. We get to go into the tournament with nothing to lose and an opportunity to take down Goliath. I believe we have it in us." 

The 2024 National Collegiate Women's Bowling Championship will have regional competition at four predetermined sites from April 4-8. The regional winner advances to the NCAA championship played on April 12th and 13th at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Mi. 

All regionals are double elimination except for the play-in match at the five-team regional, which is single elimination. Each round consists of teams competing in a best-of-three match format, bowled in the following order: five-person team match; baker total pinfall, and best-of-seven baker match play. Regional competition will conclude with one team from each regional bracket advancing to compete in the championship. 

After winning last year's conference title, it has been a team goal to get back to this point. In doing so, the ECC Bowler of the Year, Samantha Strebel, stated that "this year has been super special. Losing some of our key seniors last year, we've had to work very hard, and to see it pay off in the end, makes it super special to go back-to-back." As a supplement to Strebel's dominance is ECC Rookie of the Year, Delaney Rossette, who also commented that "there is a certain level of connection this group of girls has that makes it easy to come together as a unit. We are ready for this challenge, and I feel like anytime you get to go against a team like Jacksonville State, it only brings out the best in a team." 

As the Lakers enter the first round of the tournament, be sure to follow along as the opening rounds get under way. Tournament information, scores and updates will be posted as they become available.