No. 5 Huskers finish Penguin Classic in Third

Struthers, Ohio - The fifth-ranked Nebraska Bowling team ended the Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic in third place, going 10-3 with a pinfall of 13,356 and a 212.0 average.

The first contest of the day was a rematch against No. 1 Jacksonville State, who defeated the Huskers on Friday during the traditional round, 1,084-1,069. Starting for the Big Red was Kayla Starr, Taylor Kretz in her collegiate debut, Brenna Hartzler, Karina Capron and Haley Swindle at the anchor. The Gamecocks struck first, taking game one 218-171 as the Huskers were hampered by open frames. Alejandra Sandoval made her collegiate debut in that game as she subbed in for Swindle in the tenth frame. Swindle then returned to the lineup in the following game as Jacksonville State continued winning, claiming victory 256-201. Despite the loss, Kretz bowled her first strike as a Husker. The Gamecocks took the next game 235-203, putting Nebraska in danger of being swept. Despite the Big Red's best efforts, Jacksonville State came out on top in game four 190-174, completing the sweep and sending the Huskers to a matchup against No. 2 Vanderbilt.

The Commodores were looking to get back at the Big Red for their loss in the traditional round, coming off a close 4-3 win over No. 6 Youngstown State. Substituting Desiree Buchert for Starr in the one-hole, the Huskers struck first, taking game one 224-207. Game two was a razor-thin Vanderbilt victory 200-199, as the Big Red subbed out Kretz for Sandoval who picked up her first collegiate spare in the second frame. She then notched her first career strike in game three, but it wasn't enough as the Huskers left frames open, allowing a Commodore six-bagger to secure Vanderbilt's second win of the match, 225-171. Bad luck persisted for Nebraska in game four as they lost 203-180 and allowed the Commodores to take a 3-1 lead. Vanderbilt plunged the dagger with a nine-bagger in game five to win 279-150, trouncing a Husker team hamstrung by errors and open frames.

Now playing to stay in third place, Nebraska's final match pitted them against hosts No. 6 Youngstown State who were coming off a 4-2 win over No. 11 Wright State. The Huskers maintained their lineup from the previous game to great effect, taking game one 206-176. The Big Red kept their momentum into the second game, striking four straight frames to win 227-189 and take a 2-0 lead. Nebraska pressed its advantage with a dominant 231-146 win in game three, setting up the sweep to secure third place. NU took care of business in game four, winning 228-203 and completing the sweep and ending the day in third place.

One Husker, Starr, was selected for the All-Tournament team as the fourth place individual bowler with a pinfall of 1,140 and an average of 228.0.

The Huskers will have a week off before heading back out on the road to Orlando, Fla, for Destination Orlando hosted by No. 10 Sacred Heart from Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Boardwalk Bowl.

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