SAINT VINCENT'S PILYIH NAMED NATIONAL NCAA NATIONAL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Saint Vincent College freshman Mareana Pilyih has earned one of the season's top honors from the National Tenpin Coaches Association, named the NCAA Division III National Rookie of the Year in women's bowling.
 
Pilyih helped lead the Bearcats to the 2025 AMCC championship, and the team's first NCAA Tournament appearance. The team led all Division III schools nationwide in winning percentage and single-pin spare conversions. 
 
Splitting time in the setup and anchor roles, Pilyih recorded the team's top season average, 191.3, bowling 105 games for the season.  She threw strikes on more than 40% of her throws, and was one of the nation's leaders in spare shooting among individuals.
 
Overall for the year, she converted 85% of her makeable spares, and made single-pin spares at just under a 91% clip, both team records.
 
A former two-time Western PA high school league Most Valuable Player, Pilyih was a two-time AMCC Player of the Week as a freshman, and had her best day in the Championship round of December's Collegiate Shootout event, averaging over 239.  She also posted a team high 207.5 average in the AMCC Championships.