Huskers Return to Action at Ozark Invitational

After a seven-week break, the No. 3 Nebraska bowling team will return to the lanes this weekend at the Ozark Invitational in Springfield, Mo.  The two-day tournament is set to begin at noon on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Sunshine Lanes.  Each team will play seven regular games before being seeded in a Baker-match bracket tournament Sunday morning.

 

The Ozark Invite will be the fourth competition for Nebraska in its 2006-07 campaign.

 

Seven other teams will compete against Nebraska for the title, including No. 2 Vanderbilt, Arkansas State, Central Missouri State, Elmhurst College, Fontbonne College, Minnesota State-Mankato and Southern University. 

 

Seniors Amanda Burgoyne and Adrienne Miller, juniors Lindsay Baker and Emma Butchard, sophomores Cassie Leuthold, Sarah Koch and Stephanie McGinnis and freshman Sarah Izydorek will travel to the competition.

 

Last season, the Huskers dominated the Ozark Invitational as they placed first with an 8-2 record.  Baker placed first with a 227 average in the three-day event.

 

The 2006-07 Campaign in Review

With nearly half of the season finished, the Huskers have already made a statement in the 2006-07 campaign.  Nebraska placed second in its season opener at the Cheeseland Classic on Nov. 12, falling short to the 2006 National Champion Fairleigh-Dickinson team.  The Huskers then topped the competition at the Maverick Challenge on Nov. 19, before placing first at the Fun-In-Sun Tournament on Dec. 3. 

 

Four Huskers Earn Spots on Team USA
Four Husker bowlers earned spots on the 2007 Team USA at the completion of the United States Bowling Congress Championships on Friday, Jan. 12, at National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nev.  Shannon Pluhowsky, a 2005 graduate, placed second with a total pinfall of 8,773 over 40 games.  Former Husker Diandra (Hyman) Asbaty placed fourth with a pinfall of 6,677, earning an automatic spot on the national team.  Although current Husker Amanda Burgoyne and former bowler Brenda (Edwards) Viator were unable to place in the top-four for automatic spots, they were slected by the National Selection Committee to complete the 12-person team. 

Seven other current and former Huskers competed in the trials, including former Huskers Kari Schwager, Jamie Martin and Mandy Pancoast, and current bowlers Adrienne Miller, Cassandra Leuthold, Lindsay Baker and Sarah Izydorek.

Looking Ahead
After the Ozark Invitational, Nebraska will return to tournament play at the Aggie Invitational in Greensboro, N.C.  The tournament is set to begin at 9 a.m. on Jan. 27.