The 2013-14 Alabama State women's bowling team has climbed up the ranks to the 16th spot in the nation the highest ranking ever in the history of the program. The latest National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) Coach's poll was released Tuesday.

"I am very proud of the team," stated head coach Andrew Chatmon. "They have come a long way this year, the dedication and the focus that they have shown is starting to pay-off. Being ranked 16th is good, but we still have a long way to go and it's still a long way from winning the SWAC Championship, but we are still going to continue to strive."

"Making history is always a good thing for the team and also for the school. Sixtenth ranked is a good affirmation, that we are moving in the right direction, it is also a good indicator that we are not where we really want to be, but that we still have a lot of work to do and that we must continue to work very hard."

"I think that this will help us with recruiting and the moral of the team, but like I said we still have a long way to go."

Alabama State (18-11) opened their season at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Tournament hosted by Tulane. The Lady Hornets finished third overall during the competition. Junior Danielle Walker was also named tournament MVP. After that the Lady Hornets continued their efforts as they competed in the Texas Southern Invite taking a second and first place spot in the tournament.

The Lady Hornets then hosted their own tournament, which featured 10th ranked Sam Houston State (which won the tournament), but not before competing against a competitive Alabama State team which took second in their own tournament.

Sitting at the top of the rankings is Arkansas State University (659), which received 10 first place votes, while Maryland Eastern Shore (628) ranks second and received 11 first place votes.

The University of Central Missouri maintained its place as the nation's No. 3 team, earning 572 points and one first-place vote. Fairleigh Dickinson University was fourth with 538 points and Stephen F. Austin was fifth, earning 532 points. FDU climbed up from seventh while SFA jumped up from ninth place.

Nebraska was sixth with a pair of first-place votes while Wisconsin-Whitewater, Vanderbilt, Kutztown and Sam Houston State rounded out the top ten.

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) member Delaware State earned its first ranking of the season, coming in 15th. Fellow conference school Texas Southern received votes in the poll.

The Lady Hornets will break until January, when they compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) West round-up January 17-19 in Baton Rouge, La.

"The girls will continue to practice at home during the break," Chatmon said. "They will also be conditioning and not allowing any opportunity to practice go by."

GO HORNETS