Husker Bowlers Earn Bid to First-Ever NCAA Championship

Indianapolis, Ind. ? For the Nebraska bowling program, Wednesday was a historic day, as the Huskers earned an official invitation to compete in the inaugural NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship, April 8-10, in Houston, Texas.

For Straub, who has been instrumental in turning the Husker bowling team from a club program to varsity status, Wednesday’s official NCAA announcement capped over a decade’s worth of work.

"This is a terrific day for our program because we will have an opportunity to win the first ever NCAA title," Nebraska Coach Bill Straub. "With the teams being selected on a subjective basis, you never can be completely sure until you know officially, and we were relieved with we received the call from the NCAA today. We are excited and are looking forward to heading to Houston in the coming weeks."

"Today makes all of the efforts worthwhile," Straub said.

Nebraska was one of eight teams selected to compete in the three-day tournament at Emerald Bowl in Houston. The Huskers, who have won five College Bowling USA titles, including three since becoming a varsity sport in 1997, will be joined by Central Missouri State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Maryland-Eastern Shore, New Jersey City University, Sacred Heart, Southern and Winston-Salem State. All eight teams were selected on an at-large basis, as at least one team from each of the three regions is represented.

The competition begins on Thursday, April 8, with each team bowling seven regular games along with three Baker games for a qualifying total. The Baker format allows five team members to follow each other in order, each bowling a complete frame until a complete (10 frame) game is bowled. Based on the pinfall of the qualifying round, the teams are placed in a double-elimination bracket. Teams compete against each other in a best-of-seven Baker-style bowling competition.

"I think the format is good because the true double-elimination format is the truest way to determine a champion," Straub said. "I like the squad we have and if they play up to their potential, we have as good a chance as anyone."

The Huskers have won six of the eight tournaments they have competed in during the 2003-04 season, including the Holiday Collegiate Classic in Birmingham, Ala., earlier this month. Nebraska is led by junior Shannon Pluhowsky (Phoenix, Ariz.), who is the three-time reigning United States Amateur champion. She averages a team-high 220.407, and has won four tournament titles this season, including an NCAA record average of 254.30 at the Whitewater Invitational in November.

Tickets can be purchased at the Emerald Bowl during the event or by calling (713) 313-4337. The finals will be aired on a tape-delayed basis on ESPN2 on Sunday, April 11th from 1-2:30 p.m. The Huskers will leave for Houston on Tuesday, April 6.