Nebraska Falls to McKendree in National Semifinal

The top-seeded Nebraska bowling fell to McKendree, 2-0, in the national semifinal match, ending the Cornhuskers’ season on Saturday night at Tropicana Lanes, as the Big Red fell just short of making a return to the NCAA Championship match.

 The Huskers finish the season with a head-to-head record of 100-14.

In the semifinal match, McKendree came out strong, taking the traditional match 1,047-982. Raquel Orozco led the Huskers with a score of 218, followed by Julia Bond with her score of 203. Kelly Belzeski finished with a score of 198.

The Bearcats clinched the match with a 1,115-1,004 win in the five-game Baker format portion of the match-up. Nebraska was solid with scores over 200 in three of the five games, but McKendree’s 277 in its second game was too much for Nebraska to overcome, as the Bearcats scored at or above 200 in four of the five games.

 The Huskers began the day with a crucial 2-0 victory against sixth-seeded North Carolina A&T in an elimination match. The Huskers defeated the Bulldogs 1,012-947, in the traditional portion, as Meghan Straub led the Huskers with a score of 238. Bond followed close with a 223, followed by Orozco with a 199.

  The Huskers took down the Bulldogs again in the Baker format portion of the competition, 1,048-945, to send the Huskers to the semifinal. NU scored above 200 in three of the five games, including a high game of 245, while North Carolina A&T managed just two games over 200.