Bowling Gets Back in Action This Weekend at Big Red Invitational

The Youngstown State bowling team will resume its spring semester this weekend as it heads to the Big Red Invitational to compete with a talented 11-team field. The tournament will be hosted by Nebraska at Hollywood Bowl in Lincoln, Neb., on Feb. 26-28.

Youngstown State's 13 matches will be streamed live on the YSUsports YouTube channel, and results will be posted on the @ysubowling Twitter feed.

Tournament Format

Like several tournaments during the 2020-21 season, the Big Red Invitational will have a unique format this weekend where total pinfall over the three days will determine the champion. Friday and Saturday will follow the familiar routine of five Baker matches on day one and five traditional matches on day two. Teams will complete the Round Robin with another traditional match to start Sunday's action, and teams will be bracketed based on pinfall from the first 11 matches. However, the bracket matches will be scored like traditional matches instead of the standard best-of-seven Baker format at most tournaments, and the head-to-head results will not factor in the eventual final standings.

Previewing the Field

Youngstown State will be one of nine ranked squads competing this weekend at the Huskers' tournament. The eighth-ranked Penguins will have to battle the top four teams in the country in No. 1 McKendree, No. 2 Vanderbilt, No.3 Arkansas State and No. 4 Nebraska, plus No. 11 Lincoln Memorial, No. 19 Valparaiso and No. 22 Central Missouri. Quincy and Upper Iowa round out the field of 11 teams. In total, seven of the 11 teams were ranked in the top 11 of the National Tenpin Coaches Association Top 25 Poll in February, and YSU will be one of four teams representing the Southland Bowling League.

Schedule

Friday - Five Baker matches beginning at 10 a.m. ET

vs. #4 Nebraska – Lanes 1-2
vs. #11 Lincoln Memorial – Lanes 17-18
vs. #1 McKendree – Lanes 5-6
vs. #9 Maryville – Lanes 21-22
vs. #22 Central Missouri – Lanes 9-10

Saturday - Five traditional matches beginning at 10:10 a.m. ET

vs. #3 Arkansas State – Lanes 5-6
vs. Quincy – Lanes 13-14
vs. #19 Valparaiso – Lanes 21-22
vs. Upper Iowa – Lanes 1-2
vs. #2 Vanderbilt – Lanes 9-10

Sunday - Three traditional matches beginning at 9:55 a.m. ET

vs. Bye - Lanes 17-18
TBA - based on bracket
TBA - based on bracket

Recapping the James Brown Invitational

The Penguins will be excited to get back on the lanes after not having their best weekend at the James Brown Invitational on Feb. 12-14 and seeing last weekend's Mid-Winter Invitational get postponed due to weather. Youngstown State placed fourth at the James Brown Invitational but had to settle for a 5-8 record in head-to-head matches. Senior Emma Dockery posted her best finish of the season with a fifth-place showing, which earned her a spot on the all-tournament team. The Penguins have had a top-five finisher in all three tournaments they've competed in during the spring semester.

Previously at Nebraska

Youngstown State had arguably its best tournament in program history last season at the Big Red Invitational. The Penguins posted a 9-4 head-to-head record and picked up four victories over teams ranked in the top 12 of the NTCA poll. YSU qualified second by posting pinfalls above 5,100 on each of the first two days, and it finished as the runner-up at the tournament after pushing No. 3 Nebraska to seven games in the championship match.

Individually, Nikki Mendez placed second at the tournament and broke school records for highest individual game (289) and tournament pinfall (1,121). Two other Penguins finished in the top eight as Sarah Florence placed sixth (1,074) and Emma Wrenn placed eighth (1,059). YSU averaged 206.6 per game for the tournament, which was a program best by more than seven pins. In total, YSU set eight school records the last time it competed at Hollywood Bowl.

Up Next

The Mid-Winter Invitational was rescheduled for March 12-14, and the Penguins will compete in the tournament as a final tune-up for the Southland Bowling League Championships.