The NTCA top-rated Nebraska women’s bowling team will look to capture its sixth regular season tournament victory this weekend at the Music City Classic in Nashville. The three-day-event hosted by Vanderbilt will begin Friday morning, and will conclude Sunday afternoon, as the tournament will feature 17 ranked teams from the latest NTCA polls.
With the NCAA Championship Tournament just over a month away, the Huskers will be trying to punch their ticket to the tournament with a good performance this weekend. Despite pending inclement weather in the south that may limit the number of teams that make the event, NU should face-off with over 20 teams in the largest tournament of the regular season.
Nebraska Head Coach Bill Straub said Thursday that he will not attend the tournament due to an illness. Assistant coach Paul Klempa will take over the team this weekend in Straub’s absence, with the assistance of NU bowling office manager Kim Straub, Bill’s wife.
With the knowledge of both Klempa, in his 18th season as the assistant coach for the Huskers, and Kim Straub, an eight-time Professional Women’s Bowling Association Champion as well as a Nebraska Bowling Hall of Fame inductee, coach Bill Straub feels confident in NU despite not making the trip.
“Thankfully, both Paul and Kim are nice enough—they will keep me updated over the phone so we can make some good decisions on who to play and who not to play,” Straub said. “We pretty much have three solid starters, that being Gazmine (Mason), Julia (Bond) and obviously Liz Kuhlkin. Behind that it is kind of just looking at the practice session and see who has the best shot.”
Straub added that it was a tough decision to not make the trip, but knows the team is in good hands.
“The good thing about it is, I am blessed with such a great group of people that I work with. With the two of them, I expect them to do a great job.”
Check back at Huskers.com for updates as the NTCA No.1-rated Nebraska women’s bowling
team looks to capture its sixth regular season tournament.
Teams Competing: Adelphi, Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Arkansas State, Bethune Cookman, Central Missouri, Fairleigh Dickinson, Florida A&M, Howard, Jackson State, Long Island University, Louisiana Tech, Maryland-Eastern Shore, McKendree, Monmouth, Nebraska, North Carolina A&T, Prairie View, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis (NY), Saint Francis (Pa), Saint Peter’s, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, Tulane, UAB, Valparaiso, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Schedule: Friday, March 6
9:40 a.m. Three 5-Game Baker matches begin
12:30 p.m. 75-minute break
2:15 p.m. Three 5-Game Baker matches
Saturday, March 7
9:30 a.m. Three traditional team games
12:30 p.m. 75-minute break
2:10 p.m. Three traditional team games
Sunday, March 8
8:30 a.m. Final bracket (best of seven Baker matches)
1:00 p.m. Awards and conclusion