Las Vegas – The Nebraska bowling team claimed a second-place finish at the Stormin’ Blue & White Vegas Classic on Wednesday and finished with an 11-1 overall record.
After five baker total pinfall matches and five traditional matches on Monday and Tuesday, the Huskers bowled three best four-of-seven baker matches on Wednesday for the tournament title.
In the first round of bracket play, the Huskers faced No. 8 Duquesne with a starting lineup of Alexis Buchert, Lani Breedlove, Breanna Hartzler, Kayla Verstraete and Jillian Martin. NU came out of the gates firing with a 278 to defeat the Dukes in game one (278-167). Duquesne topped the Huskers in game two (243-233) to tie the match 1-1. NU then grabbed game three (189-171) and game four (180-174) to take a 3-1 overall advantage. Duquesne responded with wins in game five (189-178) and game six (215-209), and the teams moved on to a deciding seventh game. The Huskers then claimed the match 4-3 with a 215-182 win in game seven to move on to the second round of match play.
NU then met No. 2 Vanderbilt in another best four-of-seven baker match. The Huskers defeated Vanderbilt in game one (224-194) before the Commodores took game two (196-186). The Big Red topped Vanderbilt 204-158 in game three before NU dropped the fourth game (258-167). Then, in game five the Huskers rolled a baker 300 and won game six (204-171) to advance to the finals.
In the championship final, the Huskers took on No. 1 Jacksonville State. JSU took the first game (193-162) and the second game (191-176). NU came back in game three with a 197-182 victory before JSU won game four (267-215) to take a 3-1 overall lead. The Huskers won the next two games, 212-170, 223-203, to force a winner take all seventh game. NU battled but fell 4-3 to Jacksonville State (254-192) and finished second.
Individually, Martin led the way for the Huskers with a 19th place finish and an average of 200.8. Kathryn Bowman was 22nd (198.8), Breedlove finished 27th (193.0), Verstraete was 31st (191.0) and Hartzler rounded out the group with a 182.0 average.
Up next, the Huskers travel to New Castle, De., on Friday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Jan. 21, for the Northeast Classic.