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Lincoln, Neb.- The NTCA No. 1-rated Nebraska bowling team wrapped up its lone home event of the season at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln Saturday morning, as the Huskers placed fourth in the seven-team field.
NU dominated the three-day-event, as the Huskers placed first overall in the tournament in total pinfall with 14,592. The Huskers edged out Central Missouri (14,120) in second and McKendree University (13,971) in third.
Nebraska Head Coach Bill Straub was happy with how the team performed throughout the weekend, as the Huskers took home two of three first-place trophies (each day was its own tournament, with commemorative awards going to each champion).
Straub mentioned that despite competing well in the first two days of competition, Saturday morning was a major struggle for the Huskers, as Straub blamed Murphy's Law coming into effect.
“There are multiple things that are beneficial from playing at home, it gives an opportunity to the locals to see how the Nebraska bowling program is doing, and the first two days of our event certainly did not disappoint from a spectator's standpoint,” Straub said. “But today, I could think of nothing more than it being Murhpy's Law.”
Straub added that everyone was to blame for the Huskers average performance on Saturday, but was confident NU would get it worked out during practice this coming week.
“We had 'pilot' error, which is me. We had 'co-pilot' error with Coach Klempa and stewardess error—meaning the players. It was in general, a very poor performance by us all today.”
Despite the poor team performance on Saturday, the Huskers were led by senior Liz Kuhlkin who led all NU bowlers with an impressive 232.50 game average on Saturday. At competitions end, Kuhlkin was one of five bowlers selected to the all-tournament team. In three days of competition, Kuhlkin was second overall in the individual standings, with a 222.50 game average.
Also excelling for NU was true freshman Julia Bond of Aurora, Ill., who placed sixth overall in the individual standings, compiling a 211.20 game average over the weekend, with 2,112 total pinfall in 10 matches.
According to Straub, both Bond and Kuhlkin are leading the Huskers right now because of their reliability on the lanes.
“They are the two most reliable people on the team right now, we have some really good people this year, but those two are a step above,” he said. “Fundamentals and emotional management, you have to be able to manage not being too high or too low, they do a great job.”
Nebraska started off Saturday morning's competition much like the weather outside in Lincoln, a bit cold, as the Huskers only managed a total pinfall of 986 against Arkansas State (976). NU was led by senior Liz Kuhlkin, who scored a 264 in the Huskers first match of the day.
The Huskers continued to struggle entering their second match, as NU scored a total pinfall of 968 in a loss against Central Missouri University (1,128). The Huskers left a lot of pins out on the lanes versus the Jennies, as NU recorded six open frames in their second match of day.
In their third match of the day, the Huskers did not play a team due to the odd number of attending teams. The Huskers used the time to regroup and hash out some of the problems that had impeded them in the previous two matches of the day. NU was led by Kuhlkin who tallied a team-high 225. Bond also performed valiantly, as the Illinois native posted a 202 In her third match of the day.
Nebraska would then face off with Elmhurst University in their last match of the competition needing to score a total pinfall of 1,022 to beat out Central Missouri for the overall tournament pinfall champion. The Huskers made quick work of the Bluejay's, winning the match 1056-644, giving NU the overall tournament title.
The Nebraska bowling team will return to competition at the Track Kat Klash in Houston, Texas next weekend, Nov.21-23. The tournament will be hosted by defending NCAA National Champions Sam Houston State. Check back at Huskers.com for a full-tournament-recap following Sunday's competition.