The Nebraska bowling team will go for their fourth NCAA title Saturday night, as the Huskers went 3-0 to advance to the championship round of the 2013 NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship Friday evening.  The Huskers, who were the top-seeded team after Thursday’s qualifying rounds, will take on seventh-seeded Vanderbilt in the Championship Match at 7 p.m. (Central) on ESPNU.  Nebraska is seeking its first NCAA title since 2009, as the Huskers also won the first two NCAA titles (2004 and 2005) after bowling became an NCAA-sponsored sport in 2003-04. This is the fifth time in 10 seasons of NCAA competition that Nebraska has reached the Championship match.

The Huskers started off Friday with a decisive victory over the University of Central Missouri 4-1 (242-171, 187-228, 172-163, 258-158, 255-170.) NU went on to face two-time defending national champion Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Hawks were no match for the Huskers, as NU beat UMES, 4-1 (214-202, 183-176, 226-233, 226-189, 215-199.)  In the NCAA semifinals, NU played a very talented Arkansas State squad and advances to the National Championship game with a 4-1 victory (178-235, 193-169, 184-174, 207-192, 206-180.)

This will be the second time Nebraska has faced Vanderbilt during this week’s tournament. NU defeated VU 1,079-985 during Thursday’s qualifying round. Vanderbilt beat two-time defending National Champion Maryland Eastern Shore in the semifinal round, after beating Fairleigh Dickinson and Arkansas State to reach the Championship Round.

The Nebraska bowling team will now compete in the NCAA Women’s Bowling National Championship game against Vanderbilt. The championship finals will air on ESPNU on Saturday, April 13, at 7 p.m. central. A tape-delay broadcast of the championship finals will air on ESPN on Sunday, April 14, from 1-2:30 p.m. (central).

The Nebraska bowling team completed day one of the NCAA Women’s Bowling National Championship Tournament Thursday night at Super Bowl Lanes in Canton, Mich. The Huskers finished with a 5-2 record claiming the top seed in the eight team tournament.    NU will face No.8 Central Missouri tomorrow at 11:40 am (Central) in Friday’s elimination round. Below are the matchups:

No. 1 Nebraska vs. No 8. Central Missouri

No 2. Fairleigh Dickinson vs. No 7. Vanderbilt

No 3. Sam Houston State vs. No 6. Arkansas State

No 4. Wisconsin-Whitewater vs. No 5. Maryland Eastern Shore

The Huskers started off day one with a close loss to Sam Houston State University. NU lost 961-955.  Sophomore Liz Kuhlkin rolled a 214.  In game two, NU beat returning National Champion University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1045-1019. NU was led by Kristi Mickelson’s 236.  Game three saw the Huskers rout the Vanderbilt Commodores 1079-985 behind dominant performances from Mickelson, Kuhlkin and sophomore Elise Bolton. Mickelson scored a 269 which was the high score of the game, while Kuhlkin added a 236 and Bolton scored 229.  NU played Central Missouri in the fourth game and beat the Jennies 1090-1014.  Kuhlkin and Mickelson both scored 236.  Game five saw a matchup between NU and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, with the Warhawks edging the Huskers 1011-975. Kuhlkin led NU with a score of 223. The Huskers then faced Fairleigh Dickinson University, beating the Knights 1036-970. NU edged the Red Wolves, 1030-1022, of Arkansas State in the final match of the night.

Mickelson recorded a 1574 total pinfall through seven games, making her first in the overall standings.

The championship finals will air on ESPNU on Saturday, April 13, at 7 p.m. central.

The Nebraska Bowling Team is ranked second in the country in the final National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) regular season poll released today. The Huskers are 69-22 overall as they head into the NCAA Championships.  NU received five first place votes and tallied 694 points in the poll trailing only Maryland Eastern Shore with 15 first place votes and 724 points.

The Huskers open the NCAA Championships on Thursday at Super Bowl Lanes in Canton, Mich.