HARAHAN, La. | The Jackson State bowling team opens the 2026-27 season Friday as the Tigers compete in the Colonial Lanes Classic, hosted by Tulane at Colonial Lanes.

The three-day tournament features both Baker and traditional formats, with Jackson State set to compete against Sam Houston State, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma Christian, Tulane, North Carolina A&T, UAB, Emmanuel, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Florida A&M, Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M and Southern.

Head coach Michael Boykins expressed excitement ahead of the Tigers' season opener, especially with the returning experience on the roster.

"I'm excited about our veteran squad being led by Paige [Hubert] and Tiara [Henderson]," Boykins said.

Hubert, the 2025-26 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Bowler of the Year, enters her senior season after posting a 177.960 average and knocking down 4,449 pins last season. Henderson was named to the All-SWAC First Team as a freshman after recording a 183.00 average and a team-high 4,575 pins.

Boykins also highlighted the importance of two additional veterans who will play pivotal roles for the Tigers this season.

"But make no mistake, our captain Saida [Lugo] and MacKenzie Conway will hold key roles in our success," Boykins said.

Both Lugo and Conway enter their junior seasons as the longest-tenured members of the Jackson State roster. Lugo earned a spot on the SWAC All-Tournament Team after recording a 197.00 average and 394 pins during the tournament. Conway, a member of the 2024-25 SWAC Second Team, continued to improve during her sophomore season, posting a 174.200 average and knocking down 4,355 pins against out-of-conference competition.

Sophomores Brooklyn Simpson and Layla McGee round out the Tigers' six-member roster. Simpson returns with championship experience after helping Jackson State capture last season's SWAC regular-season championship. McGee, a Clinton, Miss., native, joins the Tigers for her first season with the program.

After capturing the program's first SWAC regular-season championship since 2016 last season, Boykins is focused on turning the page and building on that success.

"We still have a great deal of work to do. Bottom line, it is a team effort built on Tiger Pride and a No Quit mentality," Boykins said.