Huskers Host Third Annual Big Red Invitational

Big Red Invitational
Jan. 19-21
5:45 p.m., 11 a.m., 8 a.m.
Sun Valley Lanes
321 Victory Lane
Lincoln, NE
(402) 475-3469

The Nebraska women's bowling team is hosting the third annual Big Red Invitational, Jan. 19-21. The three day event will take place at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, Neb., and will feature twelve bowling teams from across the country.  The Huskers are facing a quick turnaround from the fourth-place performance at the Mid-Winter Classic from Jan. 13-15.

The Big Red Invitational field of competition includes Alabama Birmingham, Arkansas State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Central Missouri, Elmhurst College, Florida A&M University, Monmouth University, Nebraska, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Valparaiso and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Seven of the twelve competing clubs are ranked in the latest January NTCA Media Poll.

NTCA Ranked Competing Teams:
1. Valparaiso
4. Sam Houston State University
5. Central Missouri
8. Arkansas State University
9. Nebraska
11. Stephen F. Austin
18. Wisconsin-Whitewater

The Big Red Invitational will commence with dinner and a coaches' meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Sun Valley Lanes.

Big Red Invitational Format and Schedule:

Thursday, January 19, 2012:
4:00 pm     Dinner, Check-in and Coaches' meeting (Sun Valley Lanes)
5:00 pm     Introductions/20 minutes open practice at Sun Valley Lanes
5:30 pm     National Anthem/10 minutes warm-up on starting pair
5:45 pm     Five four game Baker matches

Friday, January 20, 2012:
11:00 am    20 minutes open practice
11:20 am    Practice on starting pair
11:30 am    Five traditional team game matches
4:45 pm      Dinner at Nebraska Bowling practice facility

Saturday, January 21, 2012
7:30 am      20 minutes open practice
7:50 am      Practice on starting pair
8:00 am      Final qualifying round
9:30 am      Two round match play bracket
12:30 pm    Awards ceremony

Team awards will be given to the Big Red Invite Champion and 2nd place finisher. All-Tournament Team awards will be presented to the top five individual averages. (Starting of 3 games required for recognition.) NCAA playing rules apply.

Live Scoring for the Big Red Invitational is available at the beginning of the event at this link:

http://www.sunvalleylanes.com/leagues/online-scoring.htm

Nebraska Bowling Roster:
Head Coach:  Bill Straub
Asst. Coach:  Paul Klempa
Elise Bolton: Freshman
Amanda Burau: Sophomore
Valerie Calberry: Senior
Sabrena Divis: R-Freshman
Kayla Johnson: Senior
Liz Kuhlkin: Freshman
Nicole Lape: Freshman
Yan Ling: Sophomore
Kristina Mickelson: Junior
Rebecca Pratt: Freshman
Jackie Sutton: R-Freshman
Shalima Zalsha: Junior

Following the Big Red Invitational, the Huskers will compete at the Prairie View invitational in Arlington, Texas. The event runs from Feb. 3-5.

Sun Valley Lanes Additional Information:

Sun Valley Lanes has hosted multiple Professional Bowling Association (PBA) tournaments, multiple intercollegiate events and is the early host of the Nebraska State High School Championships. Additionally, at Sun Valley Lanes on February 2nd, 1997, while competing in the Nebraska Collegiate Shootout, Husker bowler Jeremy Sonnenfeld shot the first-ever sanctioned 900 series. Former National Champion Husker bowler, John Losito, is the owner/operator of Sun Valley Lanes.

Review: Huskers Finish Fourth at Mid-Winter Classic

The Nebraska women's bowling team finished fourth at the Mid-Winter Classic, held in Jonesboro, Ark., from Jan. 12-14. It was the Huskers' first competition since returning from winter break. Vanderbilt University won the event, followed by Arkansas State and Central Missouri. 

Nebraska earned the four seed going into Sunday's final day of competition, and they were paired up with the three seeded Central Missouri Jennies. Nebraska dropped the first round of seeded bakers, 3-4. 

Nebraska bounced back to defeat Maryland Eastern Shore 4-3. The final match of the tournament for the Huskers saw them once again paired up with the Central Missouri Jennies, who were even more dominant this time around, defeating the Huskers 4-0 and assuring Nebraska's fourth place finish. 

Individually, NU's Kayla Johnson finished twelfth on the tournament with an average of 203.20 through five traditional games. Valerie Calberry finished twenty-second individually after games of 232, 176, 192, 188 and 190.