NU Takes Off For Music City Classic

Lincoln, Neb - The Nebraska bowling team will look for its sixth title of the season, as they travel to the Music City Classic this weekend. The event takes place at the Smyrna Bowling Center in Smyrna, Tenn., beginning on Friday, March 18.  The competition will begin with Baker format at 9:40 a.m. on Friday. Saturday will feature two-position rounds and traditional-format play beginning at 9:30 a.m., while Sunday's baker-style bracket will start at 9 a.m.

The Huskers will be live-streaming their matches on the Nebraska Women's Bowling Facebook page all weekend.

"The team is excited to get back into action this weekend," said Head Coach Paul Klempa. "Vanderbilt hosts a top notch event and with 33 teams in attendance, this is the largest field we see all season. It is an excellent final test in the regular season before the postseason gets underway in a few weeks. We welcome the challenge and have prepared well in the days leading up to this tournament. Should be a fun weekend of competition."

The Huskers, who moved up to second in the most recent NTCA poll released last week, are set to face one of the most heated competitions of the year, with 19 of the top 25 teams in attendance in the 33-team field. The field includes nine of the top-10 teams in the country, as this weekend's event marks NU's final competition before postseason play. 

Nebraska has won its past two events, taking first at the Mid-Winter Invitational and the Big Red Invite. All-American Cassidy Ray has led the Huskers in the last two tournaments, finishing sixth at the Mid-Winter Invitational, and third at the Big Red Invite. Ray has competed exceptionally this season with six top-ten finishes out of eight tournaments, including four top-five showings. On the season, she is averaging 207.1 per game. In the Huskers' last tournament, sophomore All-American Kayla Verstraete, who placed fifth with a total pinfall of 1,143, was also named to the all-tournament team.

Follow the Huskers:
Fans can follow @NEBowling on Facebook and Twitter, and @huskerbowling on Instagram for the latest news.

Competing Teams at the Music City Classic 
No. 1 McKendree
No. 2 Nebraska
No. 3 Sam Houston
No. 4 Vanderbilt
No. 5 North Carolina A&T
No. 6 Arkansas St.
No. 7 Louisiana Tech
No. 8 Stephen F. Austin
No. 9 Youngstown
No. 12 Maryville
No. 15 Tulane
No. 16 Sacred Heart
No. 17 Maryland Eastern Shore
No. 18 Wisconsin Whitewater
No. 20 LIU
No. 21 Lewis
No. 22 Lincoln Memorial
No. 23 Central Missouri
No. 24 Monmouth
Alabama A&M
Alabama St.
Aurora
Carroll
Carthage
Drury
Emmanual
Jackson St.
Kentucky Wesleyan
North Central College
Spalding
Tusculum
Valparaiso
UAB