Huskers Take Home Third at MOTIV Ladyjack Classic

Kenosha Wis. - The fifth-ranked Nebraska bowling team finished third at the MOTIV Ladyjack Classic, going 9-4 on the weekend and tallying a pinfall of 14,004 (205.9 average). 

NU faced No. 1 Jacksonville State in their first round best-of-seven baker match. The Big Red started with Anna Callan, Brenna Hartzler, Kayla Verstraete, Kayla Starr and Jillian Martin. The Gamecocks tallied seven consecutive strikes in game one and bowled a 232, topping NU, 232-169. Callan recorded strikes in both her frames in game two but Jacksonville State outscored the Huskers again, 201-178, to take a 2-0 lead. In the third game, Nebraska subbed Karina Capron for Starr, and put her in the leadoff position, moving Callan to the fourth spot. Capron came in and recorded strikes in both of her frames as the team scored a 185, however NU was again topped by the Gamecocks, 211-185. The Huskers avoided defeat in game four, recorded nine strikes and six straight to close the game as Nebraska bowled a 237, bringing the match to 3-1. The Big Red bowled a clean game in game five recording eight strikes as the Cornhuskers topped Jacksonville State, 220-187. NU bowled another clean game in the sixth as the team scored a 226 over the Gamecocks’ 216, to force a game seven. In game seven, Martin struckout but it wasn’t enough to lift the Huskers over Jacksonville State as the Gamecocks took the game, 225-200, and the match 4-3. 

Nebraska bowling met No. 9 Maryville in their second match of bracket play with a path to still make the championship. The Huskers fell in game one after being outscored 196-192, with Maryville taking a 1-0 lead. Both teams tallied six strikes in game two as NU bowled a 191 but were topped by the Saints, 215-191. Desiree Buchert was subbed in for Capron in game three and recorded a strike as the Cornhuskers were topped, 219-195, and fell to a three-game deficit. In game four, Martin picked up a spare in the 10th to lead NU over Maryville, 200-196, to avoid defeat. Martin picked up another match-saving spare in game five as the Big Red topped the Saints, 170-168. Despite Versraete recording strikes in both of her frames, the team recorded only three total as the team scored a 195 and fell to Maryville, 201-195, and lost the match 4-2. 

Despite being eliminated from championship contention, Nebraska bowled No. 3 Youngstown State in the final match of the day for third place. The Cornhuskers took game one 236-197 after recording eight strikes, with five in a row to close the game. NU recorded another eight strikes in the second as well as another clean game as NU topped the Penguins 236-177, and took a 2-0 lead. NU tallied nine total strikes in the third game including seven consecutive strikes as the team bowled a 244 over Youngstown State’s 198, to go up 3-0. In game four, the Huskers rolled a 179 and were edged by Youngstown State, 190-179. In the fifth, Martin led the team with three strikes as the Huskers closed out the Penguins, 211-170, and took the third-place match 4-1. 

Four Huskers finished in the top 25 for individual performance. Hartzler was fifth overall with a total pinfall of 1,087 and a 217.4 average. Martin finished 11th overall with a total pinfall of 1,070 and a 214 average. Starr was in 22nd with a total pinfall of 1,033 and average of 206.6. Callan sits at 25th with a 1,026 total pinfall and a 205.2 average.

NU returns to the lanes Nov. 22-24 as the Huskers travel to Howell, NJ., for the Garden State Classic hosted by Monmouth. 

Stay up to date with the action by following the Nebraska Women's Bowling Twitter (@HuskerBowling), Instagram (@huskerbowling) and Facebook.

MOTIV Ladyjack Classic Current Standings (Final Pinfall):
No. 1 Jacksonville State (12,978)
No. 9 Maryville (13,819)
No. 5 Nebraska (14,004)
No. 3 Youngstown State (13,753)
No. 4 Vanderbilt (13,441)
Wichita State (13,270)
No. 11 Stephen F. Austin (13,641)
No. 7 Louisiana Tech (13,780)
No. 2 Arkansas State (13,644)
No. 22 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (13,187)
No. 21 McKendree (13,126)
No. 19 Valparaiso (12,098)
No. 15 Newman (12,472)
Lewis (13,037)
No. 24 Oklahoma Christian (12,289)
Marian (12,044)
Carthage (9,358)