PITTSBURGH - The second-year Duquesne bowling program is ranked No. 25 in the National Tenpin Coaches Association preseason poll which was released this week. It marks the first time the second-year program has earned a spot in the poll.

The Dukes, who defeated 12 ranked teams during their inaugural season, were among others receiving points in the NTCA's final 2016-17 poll.

Duquesne is one of six Northeast Conference schools in the preseason poll joining Fairleigh Dickinson (No. 8), Sacred Heart (No. 9), Saint Francis U (No. 14), LIU Brooklyn (No. 16) and St. Francis Brooklyn (No. 21).

The NEC released its annual coaches poll today, with the Dukes picked to finish fifth:

2017-18 NEC PRESEASON BOWLING POLL
(first place votes in parentheses)

1. Saint Francis U (3)
2. Sacred Heart (2)
3. Fairleigh Dickinson (2)
4. LIU Brooklyn
5. DUQUESNE
6. St. Francis Brooklyn
7. Caldwell

Duquesne opens the 2017-18 season at the KU Fall Team Invite in Reading, Pa. on Oct. 14.