The University of Pikeville women's golf team has been ranked 15th in the NAIA preseason poll, following their debut at the national tournament last spring. Coaches anticipate the Bears will make another strong showing this season, led by All-American Tayla Howroyd. Defending champion SCAD (Ga.) holds the top spot in the rankings. Pikeville shares the title of conference favorites with Truett McConnell, which is ranked 12th nationally. The season kicks off on September 7-8 with the Wildcat Fall Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind.

By the Numbers
  • UPike finished 12th in the NAIA women's golf national championship last year.
  • Tayla Howroyd averaged 77.23 per round with five Top 10 finishes in seven tournaments.
Yes, But

Despite preseason expectations, maintaining or improving their national ranking will require consistent performance against top-ranked teams, including defending champion SCAD and the currently 6th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan.

State of Play
  • UPike is entering the season with three returning players from last year's national tournament team.
  • Truett McConnell leads the American Athletic Conference (AAC) rankings at 12th nationally.
What's Next

The Bears will need to start strong in their upcoming season opener against ranked competitors at the Wildcat Fall Invitational, setting the tone for the season ahead.

Bottom Line

Pikeville's 15th place ranking reflects high expectations for the season; however, they must leverage their returning talent to advance further in national standings.