MERCYHURST INVITATIONAL
Oct. 5-6 | Erie, Pa. | Rolling Meadow Lanes
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BACK IN ACTION
The Daemen University women's bowling team heads to Erie, Pa. to kick-off their 2024-25 campaign at the Mercyhurst Invitational from Oct. 5-6.
 
TOURNAMENT INFO
The two-day tournament begins on Oct. 5 at 10:55 a.m. with the Wildcats taking on RV William Smith. The Blue and White will face three other opponents in addition to William Smith that are either RV or Ranked in the top-25 (RV Mercyhurst, #25 Niagara & #12 Mount St. Mary's (Md.)). Daemen will also play crosstown rival and ECC foe D'Youville while down in the Keystone State. Day one of the tournament will be played traditional team style while Sunday will use Baker Format and Baker Format best of seven for the final.
 
BACK AT THE HELM
Carrie Racsumberger returns for her seventh season at the helm of the Daemen University women's bowling program. With the Wildcats, Racsumberger has compiled a 220-180 record entering the 2024-25 season. Last year, she guided Daemen to 44 wins, the third most in a single season in program history. Joining Racsumberger on her coaching staff this season is Terry Zarcone in her first season as assistant coach.
 
NEW AND OLD FACES
The Wildcats welcomed two new faces to the team this offseason with the additions of Faith Oranye (Washington, N.J.) and Cassandra Westphal (Spencerport, N.Y.). Daemen also returns eight players from last season including Mollie Gizicki (Brighton, Mich.),who was an All-ECC selection for the Blue and White last season, and Cassidy Papero (Cheektowaga, N.Y. ) who completed a team-high 361 frames last season. 
 
WENT TO THE POLLS
The Daemen University women's bowling team was tabbed fourth in the 2024-25 East Coast Conference Women's Bowling Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced on Sept. 30. It marks the third straight year that the Wildcats were predicted to finish in the top half of the league. It also marks the first time the Wildcats have been tabbed to finish in fourth since the 2018-19 campaign. Bryant University topped the poll with 76 points and seven of nine possible first-place votes. Kutztown University was tabbed second with 66 points and one first-place vote while Molloy University rounded out the top three with 60 points. Daemen was named fourth with 51 points and a first-place vote while local rival Roberts Wesleyan University rounded out the top five with 48 points. D'Youville University (40 points), Adelphi University (30), St. Anselm College (23) and St. Thomas Aquinas College (11) rounded out the remainder of the poll.

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UP NEXT
After competing in the Mercyhurst Invitational, Daemen will head back to Erie, Pa. next weekend for the Grapevine Class from Saturday Oct. 12 through Sunday Oct. 13.

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen women's bowling program on Twitter and Facebook at @DaemenBowling