WHITEWATER, Wis. – The National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) released its updated coaches poll for the 2018-19 season, and the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights improved two spots to seventh in the poll.
 
The Knights, who are 38-18 so far this season, remain in the top 10 in the NTCA poll and attain their highest ranking since the end of the 2016-17 season when they were ranked sixth.
 
The Knights were also the highest-ranking team among Northeast Conference schools in the poll. FDU is one of six NEC teams along with Saint Francis U (ninth), Sacred Heart (16th), LIU Brooklyn (18th), Mount St. Mary's (19th) and Duquesne (23rd) to crack the top 25.
 
Of the 25 teams ranked in the NTCA December poll, the Knights have faced 20 of the teams in competition already this season, with an overall record of 20-17 when playing against those teams.
 
So far this season, the Knights won the Virginia Union Invitational tournament champion trophy, and three different Knights have garnered NEC weekly honors, with freshman Lanasia Neal earning NEC Rookie of the Week after her first weekend of competition followed by junior Samantha Hart and sophomore Deborah Epps earning NEC Bowler of the Week in back-to-back weeks.
 
FDU completed the fall portion of the 2018-19 season at the NEC Fall meet, going 2-4 in its six Baker matches. The Knights host the FDU Alumni Meet on Saturday, January 12, at Lodi Lanes and start the second half of their season at the Kutztown Invitational, scheduled for January 18-20.