Former Huskers Dominate in American Zone Championships

San Jose, Costa Rica-Former Nebraska bowlers Diandra Asbaty (Hyman) and Shannon Pluhowsky led Team USA to the American Zone Championships on September 26.

Asbaty (Chicago, Ill.) led the team with pinfall of 1,338, while Pluhowsky (Phoenix, Ariz) added 1,209 pins, as Team USA set a six-game tournament record with a score of 6,277, smashing the old record by 210.  Since the competition was instituted in 1981, the U.S. has won 12 out of 14 gold medals between the men's and women's teams.

The ex-Huskers also proved success in the American Zone Championship Women's Masters Tournament on Tuesday, September 27.  The Masters Tournament features match-play between the top 16 women in the all-events standings.  Asbaty defeated fellow Team USA member, Jennifer Petrick, 378-370, to take home the gold.  Asbaty crushed the competition, throwing 1,753 in the first block and 1,736 in the second block.  Pluhowsky shot 1,720 in the first block and 1,719 in the second to place fourth in the tournament.

During her tenure at NU (1998-2002), Asbaty won five tournament titles and was named the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA) Bowler of the Year in 2000.  Asbaty was also a three-time All-American.  Pluhowsky (2000-2005) was a four-time All-American for the Huskers and currently holds the Nebraska record for most individual tournament titles with 12.  She was also apart of three national championships for Coach Bill Straub and the Husker program.