Huskers to Compete in Final Regular Season Tournament

Music City Classic
March 16-18
Fri. 11:15 a.m., Sat. 11:30 a.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m.
Smyrna Bowling Center, 95 Weakley Lanes, Smyrna, TN

The Nebraska bowling team will travel to its final regular season competition at the Music City Classic from March 16-18. The three-session event will take place in Nashville, Tenn.

The Huskers have been out of action since mid-February when the team finished second at the Morgan State Invitational. The Music City Classic will serve as NU's final tune-up  before the NCAA Championships running from April 12-14.

The nineteen team field consists of Nebraska, Adelphi, Fairleigh Dickinson, Kutztown, Monmouth, New Jersey City, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis, Alabama Birmingham, Alabama A&M, Arkansas State, Central Missouri, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Tulane, Valparaiso, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Traveling for the Huskers are Valerie Calberry, Kayla Johnson, Kristi Mickelson, Liz Kuhlkin, Yan Ling, Shalima Zalsha.

The Music City Classic will utilize a three-round format, featuring six four-game baker matches to open up competition on Friday. Saturday's action will include six individual team games and Sunday's final session will include four-of-seven baker bracketed matches to determine the champion. The conclusion of the event will feature the champion's trophy presentation and the naming of the All-Tournament team.

Following the Music City Classic, the Huskers will hope to receive a bid to the NCAA Championships, held April 12-14.

Review: Morgan State Invite

The Nebraska bowling team finished in second-place at the Morgan State Invitational held in Baltimore, Md., from Feb. 17-19. The Huskers navigated the field of 23 teams, but fell just short of tournament champion Fairleigh Dickinson in the baker-style finals. The Huskers fell to the Knights, 4-2.

Though the Huskers fell to the Knights, NU compiled the best team-record of the event, earning ten wins to just one loss. The Huskers reached the finals with a 4-2 victory over the Commodores of Vanderbilt in Sunday morning's first of two matches.

Individually, two Huskers were represented on the ten-person All-Tournament squad, in Kayla Johnson and Valerie Calberry. Johnson finished the Morgan State Invite seventh-individually with a 216 average. Calberry followed Johnson with an eighth-place finish and a 214 average.

"This was an excellent performance for our kids," Nebraska Head Coach Bill Straub said. "The future is bright for this team."

The Huskers will now have just under a month until traveling to Nashville, Tenn., for the Music City Classic, held March 16-18.

Final Morgan State Invitational Results
1. Fairleigh Dickinson, 9-2 (defeated Nebraska in the finals)
2. Nebraska, 10-1
3. Central Missouri, 10-2
4. Vanderbilt, 9-3
5. New Jersey City University, 9-3