Huskers First at Big Red Invite

Lincoln, Neb. - The first-ranked Nebraska bowling team went 5-0 in its first day of competition at the Big Red Invitational, tallying a total pinfall of 5,459 with a 218.4 average, finishing the day in first place. 

The Huskers started Friday morning against No. 25 Valparaiso in its first five-game total pinfall baker match. The Big Red started with Brenna Hartzler, Anna Callan, Kayla Verstraete, Kayla Starr and Jillian Martin. The Cornhuskers tallied eight strikes in game one, topping the Beacons, 206-176. In game two, NU recorded five-straight strikes to close the game, rolling a 235 over Valparaiso’s 218. Martin hit her seventh strike in a row in the third as the Big Red bowled a 192, increasing their overall match lead to 633-565. Nebraska topped Valparaiso again in game four, rolling a 205. The Cornhuskers closed out the Beacons in game five, 263-171, behind 11 strikes, as NU took their first victory of the day, 1,101-892. 

In match two, the Big Red took on Quincy. The Huskers bowled a clean game one, topping the Hawks, 228-113. In game two, NU strung together four-straight strikes to take down Quincy, 224-115. Nebraska bowled a 188 in the third, increasing their total-pin advantage to 272. The Cornhuskers recorded 11 strikes again in game four, rolling a 266. The Huskers took down Quincy, 213-130, in game five, defeating the Hawks overall, 1,119-622, to move to 2-0.

Nebraska faced Central Missouri in the third match. The Jennies topped the Big Red in game one, 210-199. The Cornhuskers tallied four-consecutive strikes in game two, but fell to Central Missouri, 216-210. NU came back and took the overall match lead, 214-173, in game three behind a 214. The Huskers rolled a clean 236 in the fourth, topping the Jennies, 236-167. In the final game, the Big Red were topped, 209-204, but won the match, 1,063-975. 

In the fourth match, NU bowled Elmhurst. The Huskers tallied seven strikes in the first, scoring a 192 over the Bluejays’ 170. In game two, Nebraska used six strikes to end the game to bowl a clean 232. The Cornhuskers bowled another clean game in the third, rolling a 200 over Elmhurst’s 127, as the Huskers took a 155 pin lead. In game four, the Big Red rolled another clean game as they topped the Bluejays, 222-202. The Huskers topped Elmhurst in game five, 204-166, defeating Elmhurst, 1,050-837. 

The Cornhuskers went into the final match of the day as the number one seed, and matched up with Quincy again. The Huskers substituted Karina Capron for Callan in game one as the team scored a 226. The Big Red bowled a clean game two, tallying nine strikes and scoring a 248 over the Hawks’ 139. In the third, NU subbed out Capron for Buchert, as the team rolled a 191 to take a 305 pin lead in the match. Nebraska bowled another clean game in the fourth game, rolling a 235, bringing the overall match lead to 900-486. In the final game, the Huskers substituted Haley Swindle for Buchert as the Big Red recorded seven strikes to close the game, rolling a 226 en route to a 1,126-635 overall match victory. 

The Huskers return to the lanes tomorrow morning at 10:10 a.m. (CT) against No. 7 Wichita State in a traditional match followed by matches against No. 13 McKendree, No. 4 Arkansas State, and a position round. 

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

Big Red Invitational Standings (Average After First Day of Competition)
No. 1 Nebraska (218.4)
No. 4 Arkansas State (210.8)
No. 7 Wichita State (205.2)
No. 13 McKendree (201.8)
No. 25 Valparaiso (197.6)
Central Missouri (188.0)
Elmhurst (173.0)
Quincy (124.5)