Huskers Win Fourth Consecutive PVAMU Invite

Arlington, Texas - The second-ranked Nebraska bowling team rallied to defeat top-ranked Arkansas State in the championship match of the Prairie View A&M Invitational Sunday, giving the Cornhuskers their fourth consecutive PVAMU Invite crown. NU finished the weekend with a 9-3 record at the International Training and Research Center in Arlington, Texas.

The Huskers (58-23) dropped the first two games of the best-of-seven Baker format championship match and found themselves down 3-1 to the Red Wolves after four games. Nebraska used three consecutive games with pinfall over 200 to storm back and win the title, 4-3.

NU entered Sunday’s championship tournament as the fourth seed, but defeated top-seeded Stephen F. Austin 4-2 in the first round to set up the matchup with Arkansas State.

Julia Bond led the Huskers in the individual standings, finishing fifth overall with an average of 220. Gazmine Mason finished 18th overall with an average of 199, while Melanie Crawford finished just behind at 19th with an average of 198.5. Bethany Hedley contributed a 213.4 average in five traditional matches, while Briana Zabierek averaged 183.8 in four traditional matches.

Nebraska also defeated Texas Southern by a score of 1,076-935 in a traditional match Sunday. The Huskers have now finished first at four of their last five tournaments.

Third-ranked Vanderbilt defeated Stephen F. Austin in the third-place match.

The Huskers will take a week off and return to Texas Feb. 12-14 at the Stormin' Ladyjack Classic in Houston. The Huskers finished second at the tournament last season. The tournament is hosted by Stephen F. Austin, which is ranked No. 8 in the nation.

Final Standings (Weekend Record)

1. Nebraska (9-3)
2. Arkansas State (9-3)
3. Vanderbilt (10-2)
4. Stephen F. Austin (8-4)
5. North Carolina A&T (6-6)
6. Monmouth (3-9)
7. Sam Houston State (6-6)
8. Maryland Eastern Shore (6-6)
9. Tulane (4-8)
10. Prairie View A&M (4-8)
11. Texas Southern (2-10)