Garden City, N.Y. - The Adelphi University bowling team is slated to open the 2012-13 season this weekend at the Kutztown University Invitational. Hosted by the 12th-ranked Golden Bears, the event will feature Baker matches on Saturday and team competition on Sunday.

The Panthers, ranked 15th in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Preseason Poll, boast a roster featuring nine returners and four newcomers. Seventh-year head coach Robert Cincotta and senior captain Samantha Morlack will look to lead Adelphi to a Northeast Conference championship and get the Panthers back to the NCAA Tournament stage.

Of the new faces, most notable are transfer sophomores Erica Schneider and Holly Zink. Schneider joins the Panthers after spending last year as a member of the national runner up squad at Fairleigh Dickinson University. As a freshman with the Knights, Schneider was named to the National Tenpins Coaches' Association Academic Honor Roll. Zink arrives in Garden City after bowling at Monmouth University last year, where she earned 2011-12 NEC All-Rookie Team honors.

The Panthers finished off last year with a notable victory at the ECAC Team Championships before exiting early at the Northeast Conference Championships in the last meet of the season. A year ago, they were ranked #11 in the NTCA Preseason poll.

The 2012-13 schedule features weekend events at #18 Bethune-Cookman College, #3 Fairleigh Dickinson, #1 University of Maryland Eastern Shore, #20 Delaware State University, Morgan State University and #4 Vanderbilt University. The Panthers are also slated for three NEC Events, the ECAC Championships and will host the Adelphi Singles Tournament in February.

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