Story by NU Athletic Communications
Arlington, Texas - After going 8-5 over the weekend, the third-ranked Nebraska bowling team finished in fifth place, tallying a 12,372 total pinfall on the weekend with a 209.7 average.
The Cornhuskers matched up with No. 12 Louisiana Tech in one final traditional match. NU started with Desiree Buchert, Haley Swindle, Kayla Starr, Anna Callan and Jillian Martin. Buchert led the way for Nebraska, recording seven strikes and rolling a 250. Martin followed, adding a 217. Swindle rolled a 204 and Starr bowled a 182. Callan added a 165 as the Huskers topped Louisiana Tech, 1,018-894, improving to an overall 6-5 record going into bracket play.
The Big Red took on No. 9 Maryville in their first round best-of-seven baker match in the consolation bracket, the first time this season the Huskers haven’t had a chance to reach the finals in a tournament this season. The two teams previously met on the first day of competition where the Saints took down the Big Red, 1,051-945. In game one, Brenna Hartzler came in for Starr in her first appearance this tournament as NU recorded seven strikes behind Martin’s four as Nebraska topped Maryville, 200-187. Martin hit her seventh consecutive strike of the match as the team recorded five straight at the end of game two to top Maryville, 225-214, going up 2-0. The Huskers substituted Kayla Verstraete for Buchert in game 3 and Verstraete struckout in both her frames as NU bowled a 255 over the Saints’ 200. Verstraete and Hartzler recorded their fourth consecutive strikes respectively in the fourth and the team tallied eight total as the Cornhuskers bowled a clean 235 and took down Maryville in a 4-0 sweep. In the match, Martin recorded 13 total strikes and the team averaged a 228.75, moving to 7-5 overall in the tournament.
In the final match of the tournament, the Huskers faced No. 4 Youngstown State for a chance at fifth place. Nebraska opened the tournament against the Penguins, a matchup where NU won, 1,032-1,010. The Big Red opened the match with a clean game one as the team rolled a 213, but were topped by Youngstown State, 232-213, after two three-strike bursts by the Penguins. In game two, the Cornhuskers bowled a 188 to top Youngstown State, 188-160, bringing the match to 1-1. NU started the third game with three straight strikes and hit three more late in the game to score a 223 to edge out the Penguins, 223-212, despite four strikes to end the game by Youngstown State. Hartzler hit her fifth strike in a row and as a team hit six straight at the end of game four, tallying nine strikes total to top Youngstown State, 256-228, going up 3-1 on the match. Hartzler recorded her sixth consecutive strike and Callan her fifth as the Huskers went on a six strike run in game five. The Cornhuskers led the strike margin 8-7 and edged out the Penguins, 249-235, to take the match, 4-1.
Three Huskers finished in the top 25 for individual performances. Buchert was 13th overall with a total pinfall of 1,324 and a 220.67 average. Martin finished in 16th with a total pinfall of 1,313 and average of 218.83. Starr finished at 22nd with a total pinfall of 1,280 and a 213.33 average.
NU returns to the lanes Feb. 7-9, as the Huskers travel to Lockport, Ill., for the Flyer Classic hosted by Lewis.
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Prairie View A&M Invite Final Standings
No. 1 Vanderbilt
No. 2 Jacksonville State
No. 10 North Carolina A&T
No. 8 Sam Houston
No. 3 Nebraska
No. 4 Youngstown State
No. 9 Maryville
No. 5 Arkansas State
No. 12 Louisiana Tech
No. 14 Duquesne
Prairie View A&M
Texas Southern