Huskers Dominant on Final Day of Big Red Invite

Lincoln - The top-ranked Nebraska bowling team had its most complete performance of the season Saturday, winning each of its four traditional games and finishing with a pinfall of 4,370 on the third day of the Big Red Invitational at Sun Valley Lanes.

The Cornhuskers (29-13) won the last two days at the invite. Per rules of the event, each day is a separate tournament. The two victories are the defending national champions first tournament victories of the season. NU went 11-3 over the weekend.

Nebraska’s Julia Bond finished second in the Day Three individual standings with a 236.5 average. The sophomore was joined in the top five by fellow Husker Gazmine Mason, who finished third with a 226.3 average. Junior Briana Zabierek finished sixth with a 216.7 average and senior Beth Hedley finished tenth with a 209 average, while senior Melanie Crawford finished 13th with a 204 average.

No. 2 Arkansas State finished second for the day with a 3-1 record and a pinfall of 4,106 while No. 7 Wisconsin-Whitewater rounded out the top three with a 3-1 record and a pinfall of 4,099.

Arkansas State’s Jordan Kasza won the individual standings for the third day of competition with a 242.8 average and was named MVP of the entire tournament. Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Lindsay Rusch (219 average) and Jaymi Watson (218.5) rounded out the top five of the individual standings.

The day began with a matchup of the top two teams in the country, as the Huskers were looking to avenge Thursday night’s loss to Arkansas State. NU benefitted from each Red Wolves bowler leaving an open frame to begin the match and led throughout. Zabierek and Bond dominated the middle frames, as Zabierek hit five consecutive strikes from frames 2-6 and Bond hit six consecutive strikes from frames 2-7 to lead Nebraska. The Huskers used a balanced performance the rest of the way as each bowler finished with a score over 200, defeating Arkansas State 1,100-950. Bond finished with a 257, the second-highest score of the first round. Mason scored a 222 while Zabierek scored a 215 to help drive the Husker attack. Crawford and Hedley both pitched in a 203 to help NU lead the overall standings after the opening round.

The Huskers took on No. 8 Central Missouri in the second match of the day. Each Husker bowler hit a strike in the first frame as NU continued its hot start. The Jennies matched the Huskers nearly frame-for-frame, as the match was tight early on. Nebraska gained some separation as Crawford hit three consecutive strikes in the first three frames, and Zabierek hit four straight in frames 3-6. Mason dominated the middle frames, hitting five consecutive strikes from frames 4-8, and the Huskers hit four strikes in the ninth to give the Huskers a 14-pin advantage heading into the final frame. A strong 10th closed out the high-scoring match, a 1,093-1,063 NU victory. Zabierek led the Huskers with a sizzling 247, while Mason put forth a score of 235. Two other Huskers bowled over 200, as Bond scored a 216 and Crawford had a score of 211.

In the penultimate match of the weekend, the Huskers faced Wisconsin-Whitewater and used a complete performance on the way to a 1,123-970 win. After a spare to open the game, the Huskers hit nine consecutive strikes to jump out to an early lead. Crawford and Bond each hit three consecutive strikes to open the match and the Huskers left no frames open through six, leading by 56 pins going into the seventh. Crawford and Mason both knocked down four consecutive strikes in the final three frames as NU cruised to the finish. Bond led the way with a score of 257 while Crawford scored a 245 and Mason finished with a 236 for the Huskers. The Big Red ran their record to 4-0 against the Warhawks this season.

The Huskers closed out the weekend with a match against Lincoln University, which the NU had defeated in a traditional match during Friday’s second day of competition. The Huskers, as was the norm over the final two days of competition, again used a balanced attack on the way to victory. Hedley hit seven consecutive strikes in the middle frames and the Huskers knocked down seven consecutive strikes in the seventh and eighth frames, as NU put away the Blue Tigers, 1,054-855. Hedley led Nebraska with a score of 257, while Bond scored a 216. Zabierek and Mason both bowled a 212 for the Huskers.

Overall, the Huskers knocked down the most pins for the entire weekend. The Huskers’ total pinfall through the three days of competition was 14,494.  Arkansas State finished second with a 14,097 pinfall and Central Missouri was third with a pinfall of 13,932.

Kasza took home MVP honors with a 230.2 average for the weekend. Bond and Mason also took home spots on the all-tournament team. Bond finished the weekend with a 223.4 average and Mason finished with a 208.3 average. Rusch (207.3) and Central Missouri’s Justyne Falbo (210.5) also claimed spots on the all-tournament team.

The Huskers will take a few weeks off and head to Houston for the Track Kat Klash Dec. 4-6. NU won the tournament a year ago, which is hosted by 2014 NCAA champion Sam Houston State. The Huskers have finished in the top five each of the last five years.

Big Red Invitational Day 3 Standings (Pinfall)

1. Nebraska: 4,370
2. Arkansas State: 4,106
3. Wisconsin-Whitewater: 4,099
4. Central Missouri: 3,981
5. Sam Houston State: 3,893
6. McKendree (Ill.): 3,823
7. Valparaiso: 3,678
8. Lincoln (Mo.): 3,288

Big Red Invitational Weekend Pinfall Totals

1. Nebraska: 14,494
2. Arkansas State: 14,097
3. Central Missouri: 13,932
4. Wisconsin-Whitewater: 13,920
5. Sam Houston State: 13,656
6. McKendree (Ill.): 13,208
7. Valparaiso: 12,882
8. Lincoln (Mo.): 10,798