Minneapolis - Steffi Neisen notched her second straight top-10 finish to open the season, helping the Huskers to a seventh-place showing at the Minnesota Invitational on Tuesday.
Neisen, a senior from New Prague, Minn., returned to her home state and fired a three-round score of 227, including a final-round 75 on the par 72, 6,119-yard layout at the Minikahda Club. Neisen finished in a five-way tie for eighth.
As a team, the Huskers managed a 312 team score on Tuesday to close the 54-hole tournament at 927. Kent State won the team title with a 902, including a tournament-best final-round 294. Illinois finished second at 903, while the hosts from Minnesota took third at 911 in the 12-team field.
Nebraska finished just five strokes back of fourth-place San Diego State (922) and Georgia Regents (922), while Texas State took sixth at 925.
Freshman Jordan Chael produced her second consecutive top-20 finish to open her collegiate career. The Overland Park, Kan., native tied for 18th at 231, despite a final-round 80 on Tuesday.
Senior Katelyn Wright added a tie for 23rd at 232, including a 79 in the third round, while sophomore Cassie Deeg closed in a tie for 30th at 237 after shooting a 78 Tuesday.
Sophomore Cassidy Stelzmiller round out the NU contingent in Minnesota with a three-round score of 255 to tie for 59th.
Kent State's Jennifer Ha ran away with individual medalist honors, scorching the Minikahda course with a four-under-par 68 in the final round to close one-under for the tournament at 215. Ha defeated Stephanie Miller from Illinois by seven strokes. Her Fighting Illini teammate Ember Schuldt took third at 223, while Kent State's Josee Doyon and Texas State's Lejan Lewthwaite rounded out the top five in a tie for fourth at 224.
Nebraska returns to action next week at the Marilynn Smith/Sunflower Invitational in Manhattan, Kan., Sept. 23-24. The tournament opens with 36 holes on Monday, Sept. 23, at 8:30 a.m. on the par 72, 6,181-yard layout at Colbert Hills.
Minnesota Invitational
Sept. 16-17, 2013
Minikahda Club (Minneapolis, Minn.)
Par 72, 6,119 Yards
Final Team Standings
1. Kent State - 306-302-294-902
2. Illinois - 300-303-300-903
3. Minnesota - 309-299-303-911
T4. San Diego State - 309-309-304-922
T4. Georgia Regents - 305-313-304-922
6. Texas State - 316-299-310-925
7. Nebraska - 303-312-312-927
8. Cal State Fullerton - 318-306-309-933
9. Long Beach State - 311-310-313-934
10. Jacksonville - 328-317-317-962
11. UC Irvine - 317-332-314-963
12. Idaho - 324-324-323-971
Final Individual Results
1. Jennifer Ha, Kent State - 76-71-68-215
2. Stephanie Miller, Illinois - 76-72-74-222
3. Ember Schuldt, Illinois - 75-74-74-223
T4. Josee Doyon, Kent State - 76-76-72-224
T4. Lejan Lewthwaite, Texas State - 80-72-72-224
T6. Sirene Blair, San Diego State - 73-77-76-226
T6. Eunice Yi, Georgia Regents - 72-79-75-226
T8. Tisha Alyn Abrea, Cal State Fullerton - 78-75-74-227
T8. Jessica Haigwood, Georgia Regents - 73-80-74-227
T8. Emma Henrikson, San Diego State - 80-73-74-227
T8. Emily Joers, Illinois - 72-78-77-227
T8. Steffi Neisen, Nebraska - 76-76-75-227
Nebraska Individuals
T8. Steffi Neisen - 76-76-75-227
T18. Jordan Chael - 75-76-80-231
T23. Katelyn Wright - 76-77-79-232
T30. Cassie Deeg - 76-83-78-237
T59. Cassidy Stelzmiller - 84-85-86-255