Nebraska Earns Second Place Finish at Crusader Classic

The Nebraska bowling team kicked off the 2011-12 regular season with a second place finish at the Crusader Classic held this weekend in Valparaiso, Indiana. The three-day event wrapped up Sunday afternoon with Valparaiso on top, while NU finished second and Arkansas State third.

Nebraska started Sunday morning's bracketed final session by defeating Arkansas State in the first round of the day before falling to Valparaiso in the third round.

Kayla Johnson (208), Valerie Calberry(202.6) and Lizabeth Kuhlkin(202.4) each earned all-tournament team honors for their individual performances. The Husker trio finished second, fourth and fifth respectively. 

The Huskers finished the first day of competition 5-0 after winning each of their baker matches on Friday. Saturday afternoon saw the bowlers compete in traditional games, in which the Huskers finished 3-1, defeating Arkansas State twice and Prairie View A&M. Nebraska's lone loss of the day came to host Valparaiso in a tightly contested match. The Huskers came up just short of Valparaiso, 961-957. Saturday's efforts were enough for Nebraska to earn the one seed going into Sunday's final competition, in which they finished second.

The Huskers will follow up the Crusader Classic at the Track-Kat Clash running from Dec. 2-4 in Huntsville, Texas.

Day Three Results:

Round 1
#1 Nebraska d. #2 Arkansas State
#3 Valparaiso d. #4 UW-Whitewater
#6 Prairie View A&M d. #5 Alabama A&M
#7 Alabama State d. #8 Elmhurst
#9 Salem BYE

Round 2
#3 Valparaiso d. #2 Arkansas State
#4 UW-Whitewater d. #6 Prairie View A&M
#5 Alabama A&M d. #7 Alabama State
#8 Elmhurst d. #9 Salem
#1 Nebraska BYE

Round 3
#3 Valparaiso d. #1 Nebraska
#2 Arkansas State d. #4 UW-Whitewater
#6 Prairie View A&M d. #5 Alabama A&M
#7 Alabama State d. #8 Elmhurst
#9 Salem BYE

FINAL STANDINGS
1st - Valparaiso
2nd - Nebraska
3rd - Arkansas State
4th - UW-Whitewater
5th - Prairie View A&M
6th - Alabama A&M
7th - Alabama State
8th - Elmhurst
9th - Salem