Big Red Domination on Day 2 of the Women's Team USA Trials
Three current or former Cornhuskers led the way on the second day of Team USA trials competition.
The past, present, and future of Nebraska bowling, though not necessarily in that order, swept the podium on Day 2 of Team USA Trials competition at the Gold Coast Bowling Center in Las Vegas.
Julia Bond, the former four-time All-American and current assistant coach, led the squad. A 156 in Game 3 dropped Bond to -42, but the 25-year-old righty caught fire down the stretch. The three-time PWBA champion in 2021 fired games of 276, 236, and 227 to catapult into the lead.
Crystal Elliot, a junior who anchored the Cornhuskers to the 2021 NCAA title, tied for second place with Shannon Pluhowsky, who won three national player of the year awards during her collegiate career in the early 2000s.
Pluhowsky also moved into the overall lead with five points through two days of competition. (This tournament is like golf; low point totals are good.)
Mabel Cummins, the highest youth finisher of the block (sixth overall), bookended her block with 250 games. Anna Callan parlayed a ninth place finish on Day 2 into the overall youth lead.
Powered by a 246 in her final game, Breanna Clemmer leapt into the top-15 and maintained her second place spot in the overall standings. Yesterday’s leader Alexis Neuer shot 1,138 and finished 41st on the day.
Okay, I’ll shut up now and just give you the numbers:
Day 2 Women Leaders
1. Julia Bond (P) — +97
T-2. Crystal Elliott (AM) — +75
T-2. Shannon Pluhowsky (P) — +75
4. Alexandria Smigiel (AM) — +59
5. Victoria Giardina (AM) — +56
Overall Women Leaders
1. Shannon Pluhowsky (P) — 5 pts.
2. Breanna Clemmer (P) — 13 pts.
3. Ashley Rucker (AM) — 19 pts.
4. Taylor Bailey (P) — 20 pts.
5. Julia Bond (P) — 21 pts.
Overall Youth Leaders
1. Anna Callan (12th overall) — 40 pts.
2. Brooke Roberts (15th) — 45 pts.
3. Mabel Cummins (17th) — 47 pts.
4. Kailee Channell (20th) — 58 pts.
5. Alyssa Ballard (21st) — 64 pts.
6. Maranda Pattison (23rd) — 67 pts.
7. Danielle Jedlicki (26th) — 73 pts.
8. Paige Peters (27th) — 77 pts.
9. Annalise O’Bryant (28th) — 79 pts.
10. Hailey Triske (30th) — 83 pts.
You can find the complete women’s Day 2 and Overall standings at those hyperlinks.
The men will hit the lanes at 6 p.m. EST (3 p.m. local time) for their second day of competition. Check out my recap of top male performers during yesterday’s block here.