Nebraska to host 2008 NCAA bowling event

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By LORI GRIFFIN / Lincoln Journal Star

The excitement in Lindsay Baker’s voice said it all.

Baker, one of two seniors on the Nebraska women’s bowling team and the only one with extensive playing time, is excited about the beginning as well as the end of the collegiate bowling season.

If everything goes as expected, the Huskers will be participating in the NCAA Championships for the fifth straight season.

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And this time, travel will be less extensive, as Nebraska will host the meet.

Monday, it was announced that the 2008 NCAA Championships will be held at Thunder Alley in Elkhorn. The center is set to open later this fall. The event is scheduled for April 10-12, 2008.

“I’m so glad.  It’s so awesome to host a tournament in Nebraska,” Baker said. “The last three years that I have been with the team we haven’t hosted a tournament and I don’t know how long it’s been since we’ve hosted a tournament.

“I can’t wait. The season hasn’t even started and I get to finish it in Nebraska.”

Nebraska was set to host the 2007 NCAA meet in Lincoln, but the event was moved to Florida after facilities could not be finalized.

“It was certainly good news,” NU coach Bill Straub said. “With as much success as Nebraska has had in hosting the volleyball championships and the College World Series, we hope to do the best job we can also. We are thrilled to be included in the NCAA Championships, and I am convinced the event will be at the top level.”

Nebraska won the inaugural  NCAA title in 2004, and repeated in 2005. The Huskers finished third in 2006 and 2007. Fairleigh Dickinson was the 2006 champion, while Vanderbilt won last season.

Nebraska has won a total of seven national titles in both club and NCAA competition.

“This is a great opportunity for the team because everyone gets to go to nationals with us,” said Baker, the 2006 national player of the year.  “The last three years we have only  taken six people and we have 12 on the team, so not everyone was able to travel.

“This year, everyone will get to go and see it, so the freshmen will be able to attend and prepare themselves for the next year.”

Nebraska has seven freshmen and junior college transfer Kaleena Henning, a North Platte native.

The Huskers open the season Nov. 9 at the Whitewater Classic in Fort Atkinson, Wis.

Reach Lori Griffin at 473-7174 or lgriffin@journalstar.com.