Huskers Moving Up in Arkansas

Jonesboro, Ark. - The first-ranked Nebraska bowling team went 3-2 in their second day of competition at the Mid-Winter Invitational and moved into third place, tallying a total pinfall of 10,368.

The Cornhuskers began day two in their first traditional match against No. 14 Wisconsin-Whitewater and started with Brenna Hartzler, Kayla Starr, Kayla Verstraete, Anna Callan and Jillian Martin. Starr led the way for the Big Red with nine strikes and a 237. Hartzler followed with a 228, and Verstraete rolled a 221. Martin scored a 206 and Callan added a 162 to the team score. The Huskers had a big 10th frame, recording seven-consecutive strikes to finish with a 1,054. The Warhawks tallied 36 total strikes over the Cornhuskers’ 31, with 11 coming from one Warhawk as Wisconsin-Whitewater took down Nebraska, 1,106-1,054. 

NU moved on to face No. 5 Youngstown State in match two. The Cornhuskers substituted Haley Swindle for Callan and rolled a 191. Verstraete led the Big Red with eight strikes and a 228 with Martin following close behind with a 225. Starr (213) and Hartzler (204) both finished over the 200 mark as well with each Husker recording at least five strikes to bowl a 1,061. But, Youngstown State’s 1,111 would put the Penguins over the Cornhuskers, as NU moved to 0-2 on the day. 

The Huskers met No. 7 Wichita State in the third match. Starr tallied nine strikes, including five in a row late in the match, on her way to rolling a team-leading 244. Martin also recorded five strikes in a row, scoring a 238. Verstraete bowled a 217, closing the match with three strikes. Swindle (206) and Hartzler (174) rounded out the Big Red lineup as the Cornhuskers gained the lead in the 10th for a come from behind win, 1,079-1,047, over the Shockers. 

In match four, Nebraska took on No. 17 Alabama Birmingham (UAB). Martin led the team, tallying seven strikes en route to rolling a 226. Verstraete bowled a 194 and Hartzler added a 189 to the team score. Swindle rolled a 184 and Starr rounded out the lineup with a 182 as the Huskers took down the Blazers, 975-837, for their second-straight win. 

In the final match of the day, the Big Red bowled No. 8 Sam Houston. Starr led the way for the Huskers with a 206. Verstraete (204) and Martin (204) both recorded six strikes each, three of which came in the 10th for Martin. Swindle rolled a 181, and Hartzler added a 170 as the Cornhuskers topped the Bearkats, 965-925, to finish day two 3-2. 

Three Huskers currently sit in the top 25 for individual performances. Martin is eighth overall with a total pinfall of 1,099 and a 219.8 average. Starr is in 10th with a total pinfall of 1,082 and average of 216.4. Verstraete sits at 13th with a total pinfall of 1,064 and a 212.8 average. 

The Huskers return to the lanes tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. (CT) against No. 7 Wichita State in a best 4-of-7 baker match, followed by two additional rounds of best 4-of-7 baker matches, to determine final placements. 

Mid-Winter Invitational Top 10 Standings (Pinfall After Second Day of Competition)
No. 3 Jacksonville State (10,604)
No. 2 Vanderbilt (10,592)
No. 1 Nebraska (10,368)
No. 7 Wichita State (10,312)
No. 5 Youngstown State (10,288)
No. 4 Arkansas State (10,283)
No. 14 Wisconsin-Whitewater (10,230)
No. 9 Stephen F. Austin (10,007)
No. 8 Sam Houston (9,939)
No. 10 Maryville (9,925)