Mendez's 289 Highlights Record-Setting Day at Big Red Invitational

Saturday, February 29

Lincoln, NE

10-25 AM

Youngstown State University

3-2

Big Red Invitational

Mendez's 289 Highlights Record-Setting Day at Big Red Invitational

2/29/2020 12:00:00 AM | Bowling

Senior Nikki Mendez was two strikes from perfection, and the Youngstown State bowling team broke four more school records on Saturday at the Big Red Invitational. The tournament is being held at Hollywood Bowl in Lincoln, Neb.

In her first game of the morning, Mendez threw the first 10 strikes and was a stubborn and wobbly 10-pin away from having a shot at the program's first 300. Mendez finished with a 289, which was 22 pins higher than teammate Emma Dockery's previous record for highest single game. Mendez went on to break the school record for highest five-game series with 1,121 pins, and she helped the Penguins break team records for highest match total (1,138) and highest round total (5,243).

Youngstown State went 3-2 in head-to-head play on Saturday, and its two losses were by a combined four pins. The Penguins moved up one spot into second in the standings, and they'll be in contention to win the tournament during bracket play on Sunday.

"The ladies continued to elevate their game today, and we had a lot of fun out there competing," coach Doug Kuberski said. "We adapted well to what each pair presented and took some solid notes for tomorrow. We'll enjoy downtown Lincoln tonight, rest up, and prepare ourselves for a solid Sunday."

Mendez followed up her 289 with scores of 247, 215, 178 and 192 to finish as the tournament's runner-up. She finished 23 pins behind Arkansas State's Taylor Davis, who bowled a 299 in her first game. Two other Penguins finished in the top eight individually as Sarah Florence placed sixth with a 1,074 and Emma Wrenn was eighth with a 1,059. Florence was 10 pins from joining Mendez on the all-tournament team. Emma Dockery finished 13th with a 1,038, and Megan Grams placed 23rd with a 951.

"It was a great team effort today and we all fueled each other with positive, powerful energy," Kuberski added. "Nikki gave perfection a heck of a run. It was a lot of fun to be a part of it."

Mendez's 289 came as Youngstown State beat No. 12 Central Missouri 1,138-1,019 in the first match of the day. The Penguins had their first loss of the tournament in their second match in a one-pin, 1,017-1,016 setback to Valparaiso, but they bounced back to win their next two matches over Prairie View A&M and Augustana. YSU then lost 965-962 to No. 3 Nebraska in the final match of qualifying.

Youngstown State will begin bracket play against the Huskers on Sunday at 9:55 a.m. Eastern.

Saturday's Traditional Match Results