Topeka, Kan. -- The University of Nebraska women's bowling team opened their 2001-02 season with a win at the Mid-States Tournament, Oct. 20-21. The Huskers, who are the defending national champions, are also the defending champions of the tournament.
The Huskers finished with an average of 1073.769 and a total pinfall of 13,959, 120 pins more than Central Missouri State, which finished second.
Huskers finished in the top five, including junior Kari Schwager (2nd - 227 average), sophomore Christina Perez (4th - 225 average) and sophomore Shannon Pluhowsky (5th - 220 average).
Other Huskers competing in the tournament were senior Christie Couvillon (210 average), sophomore Suzy Medwell (207 average), senior Paola Gomez (207 average) and senior Diandra Hyman (199 average).
Perez won the singles event with a 741 total pinfall for three games.
Nebraska Notes:
- Pluhowsky, who set a collegiate bowling record last year for winning her first five tournaments, started off strong again for the Huskers. With her fifth-place finish at the 2001 Mid-States Tournament, Pluhowsky has now finished in the top five in nine of 10 individual tournaments, dating back to the Texas Leti Classic last year, Oct. 6-7, 2000.
- With her 220 average, Pluhowsky has now bowled over 200 in all 10 individual collegiate events and has bowled a 220 or better in six tournaments. Pluhowsky now has an overall average of 221.537 through her first 10n individual tournaments.
- Senior Christie Couvillon's 210.778 average was a career high. Her next highest was a 210.250 in her first collegiate tournament, the Texas Leti Classic in 1999.
- Senior transfer Paola Gomez's 207.75 average marked the first time she has bowled over a 200 for the Huskers.
- Senior Diandra Hyman's 199.154 average is only the fifth time in 17 events that Hyman has failed to bowl a 200 or better.
- Sophomore Suzy Medwell's 207 average is more than five points higher than her average at last year's Mid-States Tournament. Medwell bowled a 201.071 at the 2000 Mid-States.
- Junior Kari Schwager's second-place finish is a career high. Her previous high finish was fourth place, which she accomplished twice last season. Schwager also bettered her career-high average with a 227.846. Her previous high average was a 225.455 at the 2000 National Collegiate Team Matchgames.
- Sophomore Christina Perez became the fourth current Husker bowler to win an individual singles tournament. Her average of 225.833 is over 12 points higher than her next average of 213.500.
- The Huskers have had at least one player finish in the top five in their last 13 tournaments, dating back to the ACU-I Region 11 Tournament, Feb. 19-20, 2000.
- The Husker women have not placed lower than third in a regular season tournament since the Las Vegas Invitational, Dec. 19-21, 1999, where the team place fourth. That tournament was the only time Nebraska has failed to place in the top three since the beginning of the 1999-2000 season.
- Nebraska will return to action at the National Collegiate Matchgames in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 23-24.
Current Nebraska Records
Husker Individual Records
Pinfall, Game Pluhowsky 3,192 (00 Mid-states)
Average, Game Pluhowsky 242.182 (00 Team Match)
Pinfall, Season Pluhowsky 19,104 (00-01)
Games, Season Claus/O'Hayre 90 (99-00)
Average, Season Pluhowsky 222.140 (00-01)
Pinfall, Career Hyman 46,281 (98-present)
Games, Career O'Hayre 229 (98-01)
Average, Career Pluhowsky 222.140 (00-present)
Freshmen Records
Pinfall Pluhowsky 19,104 (00-01)
Average Pluhowsky 222.140 (00-01)
Games Pluhowsky 86 (00-01)
College Bowling USA Team Records
Pinfall, Game Wichita State 14,187 (2/7/99)
Average, Game Florida State 1116.212 (10/24/99)
Pinfall, Season Morehead State 302,827 (99-00)
Games, Season Morehead State 314 (99-00)
Average, Season Wichita State 1208.818 (98-99)
College Bowling USA Individual Records
Pinfall, Game Pluhowsky 3,192 (10/22/00)
Average, Game Edwards (Fresno) 242.875 (2/7/00)
Pinfall, Season DeCrescente (MSU) 23,986 (00-01)
Games, Season Three players (MSU) 118 (00-01)
Average, Season Anania (Sacred Heart) 227.061 (98-99)
Collegiate Bowler of the Year
Kim Berke 1992
Diandra Hyman 2000
Shannon Pluhowsky 2001
Bowling Writer's Association of America Top 10 Players of 2000-01
1. Shannon Pluhowsky (Nebraska) 222.140
2. Cathy Krasner (Fresno State) 208.868
3. Jackie Edwards (Fresno State) 207.885
4. Diandra Hyman (Nebraska) 206.953
5. Robin Crawford (Morehead State) 205.615
6. Amber Gazverde (Central Missouri State) 205.312
7. Melissa Bellinder (Cal State-Fullerton) 204.689
8. Katie Verbil (Wichita State) 204.562
9. Amy DIllon (Wichita State) 204.426
10.Mandy Bedwell (Indiana State) 203.449
" Nebraska currently has five active bowlers who have been ranked in the top 50 during their careers. Couvillon was ranked 35th in 1999-2000; Schwager was ranked 26th and 27th in 2000-2001 and 1999-2000, respectively; Medwell was ranked 19th during the 00-01 season; Pluhowsky was ranked first last season and Hyman has been ranked in the top five throughout her career (1st - 1999-2000, 4th - 2000-2001 and 5th - 1998-1999) The Huskers have a total of 13 players who have been ranked in the top 60 since the 1997-98 season.