Husker Bowlers Picked First In Preseason Poll

The defending national champion Nebraska bowling team has been picked first in the National Tenpin Coaches Association 2015-16 preseason poll, released Friday. 

The Cornhuskers tallied 17 out of a possible 25 first-place votes from the coaches.  Arkansas State was voted second, garnering five first-place votes.  Last year’s national runner-up Stephen F. Austin came in third with two first-place votes, while Fairleigh Dickinson and Vanderbilt rounded out the top five.

The Huskers return seven bowlers from last year’s squad, including a pair of All-Americans, from last year’s NCAA title team.  The Huskers must replace 2015 NTCA Bowler of the Year Liz Kuhlkin and four-year contributor Andrea Ruiz.

Coach Bill Straub returns for his 19th season as the head coach of the Nebraska program.  During his tenure, the Huskers have won ten national championships, dating back to their days as a club sport.  Straub understands the honor that comes with the ranking, but understands the work the team has ahead.

“With our so very young team this year and the loss of two stars from last year’s team, we are most appreciative that the voters deemed it appropriate that we start the preseason ranked no. 1,” said Straub. “We will continue working on trying to justify the worthiness of that position.”

Returning for the Huskers in 2015-16 are third-team All-Americans in Gazmine Mason and Julia Bond.  Mason, a junior from Cranston, R.I., averaged 207.8 pinfall a season ago, to rank second on the team.  Bond, a sophomore from Aurora, Ill., was named Most Outstanding Bowler at the 2015 NCAA Tournament, when she averaged a staggering 225.6 pinfall per game.

Also returning for the Big Red are seniors Melanie Crawford and Bethany Hedley.  Crawford, from Plano, Texas, compiled a 212.1 average in the NCAA Tournament.  Hedley, from Watford, England, averaged a shade under a 200 pinfall average in 2015.  Juniors Briana Zabierek, Alexandra Mosquera and sophomore Kelly Belzeski are also back for NU.

Nebraska begins its season at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Bowling Invitational in Kenner, La., Oct. 16-18