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Brandi Branka will serve as the inaugural coach head coach for the Saints women’s bowling team. The team begins its first season of competition during the 2015-16 academic year.

“I look forward to growing a successful program,” Branka said. “I’m excited to become Maryville University’s first women’s bowling coach and can’t wait to get started.”

Branka is currently ranked as the top female bowler in the state of Illinois with a 226 average.

Branka, who hails from Momence, Ill., bowled collegiately at McKendree University and currently plays on the Professional Women’s Bowling Tour. She is currently ranked as the top female bowler in the state of Illinois with a 226 average, according to the national bowling website leaguesecretary.com.

In her final season at McKendree, Branka helped the Bearcats finish fifth at the United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships. She also qualified for the individual national championship that season. At the Western Illinois Leatherneck Classic, Branka won the individual title. She also finished second overall out of 166 bowlers at the National Collegiate Team Match Games. Branka graduated from McKendree in May 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in health and wellness. After graduation, she served one season as an assistant coach for the Bearcats women’s team.

Student-athletes who are interested in joining the Maryville women’s bowling team should contact coach Branka at bbranka@maryville.edu for more information.