Martin, Starr in Top 5, NU Remains in Second

Howell, N.J. - The No. 5 Nebraska bowling team went 5-0 in the second day of competition at the Garden State Classic, bringing its overall tournament record to 10-0 with a 10,435 total pinfall, as the Cornhuskers remain in second place. 

The Big Red matched up against No. 23 Delaware State in their first traditional match and first ranked match of the tournament. They started with Haley Swindle, Kayla Starr, Kayla Verstraete, Anna Callan and Jillian Martin. NU was led by Verstraete with eight strikes and a 234. Martin followed closely with a 224. Starr added a 188, and Callan (183) and Swindle (177) rounded out the lineup. The Huskers matched the Hornets’ 26 strikes to take down Delaware State, 1,006-967, to start traditional play 1-0.

NU moved on to face No. 6 North Carolina A&T in match two. Nebraska tallied 31 strikes, most of which came in the back half of the match to answer the Aggies’ hot start. Martin led the team with 11 strikes and scored a 279. Callan added a 217 to the score. Swindle (213) and Verstraete (203) also finished over the 200 mark. Starr bowled a 190 as the Huskers topped North Carolina A&T, 1,102-952. 

In match three, Nebraska met the tournament host, Monmouth. The Huskers recorded 35 total strikes as Starr led the team scoring a 279 after hitting eight strikes in a row. Callan added a 267 and Martin bowled a 220. Verstraete (192) and Swindle (180) each recorded four strikes as NU bested Monmouth, 1,138-964, to stay perfect in match play. 

In the fourth, the Cornhuskers took on No. 12 Mount St. Mary’s. NU tallied 24 strikes to Mount St. Mary’s 17 as Swindle (220) and Starr (205) led the Big Red after both struckout in the ninth and 10th frames. Verstraete followed after shooting a 191. Martin added a 189 to the team score, and Callan rounded out the team after bowling a 180 as Nebraska topped the Mountaineers, 985-918. 

In the final match of the day, the Cornhuskers took on No. 25 Niagara. The Huskers won the strike margin against the Purple Eagles as the team tallied 27. Starr led the team with a 219 and Verstraete followed closely with a 211. Callan led the team with seven strikes and bowled a 204. Martin (173) and Swindle (166) rounded out the Big Red lineup as NU defeated Niagara, 973-869, to go 5-0 on day two. 

Four Huskers currently sit in the top 25 for individual performances. Martin is second overall with a total pinfall of 1,085 and a 217 average. Starr is in fifth with a total pinfall of 1,081 and average of 216.2. Callan sits at 11th with a total pinfall of 1,051 and a 210.2 average. Verstraete is in 15th with a total pinfall of 1,031 and a 206.2 average. 

The Huskers return to the lanes tomorrow morning at 7:25 a.m. (CT) against No. 1 Jacksonville State in a best 4-of-7 baker match followed by two additional best 4-of-7 baker matches for final placements. 

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

Garden State Classic Current Standings (Pinfall after second day of competition):
No. 1 Jacksonville State (10,553)
No. 5 Nebraska (10,435)
No. 3 Youngstown State (10,323)
No. 4 Vanderbilt (10,145)
No. 9 Maryville (9,892)
No. 6 North Carolina A&T (9,706)
No. 10 Duquesne (9,573)
No. 12 Mount St. Mary’s (9,550)
No. 23 Delaware State (9,448)
No. 25 Niagara (9,370)
Monmouth (9,217)
No. 20 Fairleigh Dickinson (9,203)
Felician (9,123)
Wilmington (8,988)
Bryant (8,874)
Dominican (8,846)
Coppin State (8,519)
Molloy (8,312)
Adelphi (7,927)
Holy Family (7,772)