Lincoln – The Nebraska softball team completed a four-game sweep of Maryland with an 8-0 five-inning victory in the series finale Sunday in the final home game of the season at Bowlin Stadium.
 
On Senior Day, it was a pair of juniors and two freshmen who lifted the Huskers to their ninth straight victory over Maryland.

In the circle, junior right-hander Courtney Wallace tossed her first career shutout. In 5.0 innings, Wallace (9-7) allowed only three hits, did not walk a batter and retired 13 of the final 14 hitters.

Offensively, freshmen Kaylin Kinney and Billie Andrews and junior Cam Ybarra each homered. Kinney finished 2-for-2 with a three-run homer, giving her three home runs in the final two games of the series. Andrews and Ybarra were each 1-for-2 and hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning. Senior Tristen Edwards added two hits of her own, while senior Rylie Unzicker drove in a pair of runs.

The big performances powered Nebraska to its first-ever four-game sweep in conference play. With the win, the Huskers improved to 20-16 on the season. Haley Ellefson (1-3) took the loss for Maryland, which fell to 14-22 on the season.
 
In the top of the first inning, Nebraska escaped a jam that proved to be Maryland's only scoring threat. A passed ball on a strikeout and a bloop single that landed just fair put runners on first and second with no outs. Following a force out at third, a single up the middle looked like it might score the game's first run, but Unzicker threw out the runner at home plate.
 
The Huskers then scored three times in the bottom of the first. Edwards led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Unzicker. Ybarra then drew a four-pitch walk ahead of Kinney's three-run homer.
 
Nebraska used another two-out rally in the second to stretch the lead 5-0. Freshman Abbie Squier drew a one-out walk before Edwards doubled with two outs – her school-record 49th career double. With runners on second and third and two outs, Unzicker delivered a two-run single through the right side.
 
The Huskers added another run in the bottom of the third, pushing the lead to 6-0. Kinney led off with a single and senior Ally Riley followed with another single. A third single from Squier loaded the bases with one out, and Kinney scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Brooke Andrews.
 
Nebraska brought the run-rule into effect with a two-run fourth inning after Billie Andrews and Ybarra blasted back-to-back home runs to make it an 8-0 game.

Wallace the retired the side in order in the seventh to wrap up her shutout.
 
With its home schedule complete, Nebraska travels to Iowa for a four-game series next weekend.

Huskers Close Spring at Big Ten Championship

Carmel, Ind. - Caleb Badura and Tom Westenberger each carded final rounds of 76 to lead the Nebraska men's golf team at the Big Ten Conference Championship at Crooked Stick Golf Club on Sunday.

The Huskers managed a 307 team total in the final round of the five-count-four format on the par-72, 7,325-yard layout of Crooked Stick. Jack Lundin added a 77 on the final day of competition, while Mark Foelbaek contributed Nebraska's fourth score with a 78.

Foelbaek, a senior from Jelling, Denmark, matched Badura as Nebraska's top finishers in the 54-hole event with three-round totals of 233. Westenberger closed with his best round of the tournament on Sunday to tie for 46th at 234, while Lundin and Will Marshall completed the Husker contingent in a tie for 51st at 236.

As a team, Nebraska finished 12th at 929 (317-305-307). Illinois won the Big Ten Championship with a three-round score of 883 (+19), including a 289 in the final round. Iowa finished one shot back in second at 884, including an even-par 288 on Sunday. Iowa's Max McClear captured medalist honors with a one-under-par 215, while teammate Alex Schaake matched Purdue's Joe Weiler and Adrien Dumont de Chassert from Illinois in a three-way tie for second at 218 (+2).

Green Earns Title, Leads 12 Huskers Competing at UWW Junior and Senior Nationals

Former Nebraska wrestler James Green took home the 70 kg senior freestyle crown on Saturday night as a total of 12 past and present Huskers took the mat at UWW Junior and Senior Nationals this weekend. The events were held at Xtrema Arena in Coralville, Iowa from Friday, April 30 to Sunday, May 2. 
 
Six Huskers in total competed at Senior Nationals, with Alex Thomsen (60 kg) wrestling Greco-Roman on Friday and Tyler Berger (70 kg), Landon Brown (125 kg), TJ Dudley (92 kg) and Christian Lance (125 kg) joining Green in the freestyle division.
 
On his quest for the title, Green defeated his first three opponents by superiority, wrestling less than six minutes combined in his first three matches on the day. He went on to win his semifinal bout against Brayton Lee (Gopher Wrestling Club – RTC) by 4-2 decision and ultimately won the title with a 7-2 win over Alec Pantaleo (TMWC/CKWC).
 
Green's second career Senior National title earns him a spot at the 2021 U.S. World Team Trials in September. Also earning qualifications to the World Team Trials with top five finishes in their respective weight classes were Berger (third), Dudley (third), Lance (fifth) and Thomsen (third). 
 
At UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals, Dominick Serrano (61 kg) led the contingent of six Huskers competing with a third-place finish. After falling in the semifinals of the championship bracket, he defeated his next two opponents by decision to secure the third-place result on Sunday.

The remaining field of NU grapplers at Junior Nationals included Jeremiah Reno (57 kg), Kevon Davenport (70 kg), Nic Stoltenberg (70 kg), Elise Brown Ton (74 kg) and Nathan Haas (86 kg). 
 
UWW Junior and Senior Nationals | April 30-May 2 | Xtrema Arena | Coralville, Iowa
Senior Greco-Roman
Alex Thomsen – 60 kg
Quarterfinals: Alex Thomsen (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) VSU Kevon Powell (Louisiana), 9-0 2:16
Semifinals: Dylan Koontz (TMWC/ Ohio Regional Training Center) VSU Alex Thomsen IA (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center), 8-0 4:20
Cons. Semifinals: Alex Thomsen (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) VSU1 Thomas Hicks
(Tennessee), 10-2 1:17
Third-Place Match: Alex Thomsen (Nebraska Wrestling Training Center) VSU King Sandoval (Bandits Wrestling Club), 8-0 1:06
 
Senior Freestyle
Tyler Berger – 70 kg
Rd. of 32: Tyler Berger (NWTC) VPO1 Michael Blockhus (Gopher Wrestling Club – RTC), 10-7
Rd. of 16: Tyler Berger (NWTC) VSU Justin Kopet (Minnesota) 0:37
Quarterfinals: Tyler Berger (NWTC) VPO1 Yahya Thomas (TMWC/Wildcat Wrestling Club), 7-3
Semifinals: Alec Pantaleo (TMWC/CKWC) VPO1 Tyler Berger (NWTC), 6-2
Cons. Semifinals: Tyler Berger (NWTC) VPO1 Elroy Perkin (Gopher Wrestling Club – RTC), 7-3
Third-Place Match: Brayton Lee (Gopher Wrestling Club – RTC) VIN Tyler Berger (NWTC)
 
James Green – 70 kg
Round of 32: James Green (TMWC/SERTC) VSU Austin Braun (Minnesota), 10-0 1:23
Rd. of 16: James Green (TMWC/SERTC) VSU Cameron Harrell (Georgia), 11-0 2:02
Quarterfinals: James Green (TMWC/SERTC) VSU1 Elroy Perkin (Gopher Wrestling Club – RTC), 12-2 2:32
Semifinals: James Green (TMWC/SERTC) VPO1 Brayton Lee (Gopher Wrestling Club – RTC)
Finals: James Green (TMWC/SERTC) VPO1 Alec Pantaleo (TMWC/CKWC), 
 
TJ Dudley – 92 kg 
Rd. of 16: TJ Dudley (NWTC) VPO1 Rodsean Graham (Illinois), 9-4
Quarterfinals: TJ Dudley (NWTC) VPO1 Willie Miklus (Michigan Wrestling Club), 10-3
Semifinals: Kyven Gadson (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) VSU1 TJ Dudley (NWTC), 11-1 3:56
Cons. Semifinals: TJ Dudley (NWTC) VPO1 Cameron Caffey (Michigan Wrestling Club), 12-6
Third-Place Match: TJ Dudley (NWTC) VPO1 Scottie Boykin (TMWC/Spartan Combat RTC), 8-2
 
Landon Brown – 125 kg
Rd. of 32: Demertius Thomas (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club) VSU Landon Brown (NWTC), 10-0 3:43
Cons. 16 #1: Landon Brown (NWTC) VSU Mitchell Gruber (Columbus Wrestling Club), 10-0 0:20
Cons. 16 #2: Duncan Lee (Iowa) VPO1 Landon Brown (NWTC), 4-4
 
Christian Lance – 125 kg
Rd. of 32: Christian Lance (NWTC) VPO Owen Trephan (TMWC/Wolfpack Wrestling Club), 7-0
Rd. of 16: Christian Lance (NWTC) VSU Duncan Lee (Iowa), 10-0 2:38
Quarterfinals: Christian Lance (NWTC) VPO1 Lucas Davison (TMWC/Wildcat Wrestling Club), 6-2
Semifinals: Nick Gwiazdowski (TMWC/Wolfpack Wrestling Club) VPO Christian Lance (NWTC), 9-0
Cons. Semifinals: Dominique Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) VPO1 Christian Lance (NWTC), 2-1
Fifth-Place Match: Christian Lance (NWTC) VPO1 Matt Stencel (Central Michigan Wrestling Club), 3-1
 
Junior Freestyle
Jeremiah Reno – 57 kg
Rd. of 64: BYE
Rd. of 32: Jeremiah Reno (NWTC) VSU1 Jonathan Gurule (505 Wrestling Club), 13-2 3:43
Rd. of 16: Tristan Lujan (Michigan Wrestling Club) VSU Jeremiah Reno (NWTC), 10-0 2:09
Cons. 16 #2: Jett Strickenberger (Black Fox Wrestling Academy) VSU Jeremiah Reno (NWTC), 11-0 1:09
 
Dominick Serrano – 61 kg
Rd. of 64: BYE
Rd. of 32: Dominick Serrano (NWTC) VSU Kenny Herrmann (Pennsylvania), 11-0 5:55
Rd. of 16: Dominick Serrano (NWTC) VFA Nick Masters (Princeton Wrestling Club), 1:09
Quarterfinals: Dominick Serrano (NWTC) VSU Trey Crawford (Tiger Style Wrestling Club), 12-0 1:26
Semifinals: Jesse Mendez (Region Wrestling Academy) VSU1 Dominick Serrano (NWTC), 12-2 4:39
Cons. Semifinals: Dominick Serrano (NWTC) VPO1 Cleveland Belton (Sunkist Kids), 8-2
Third-Place Match: Dominick Serrano (NWTC) VPO1 Cullan Schriever (Hawkeye Wrestling Club), 12-8
 
Kevon Davenport – 70 kg
Rd. of 128: BYE
Rd. of 64: Kevon Davenport (NWTC) VPO1 Brett McIntosh (Wyoming Wrestling Reg. Training Center), 3-2 
Rd. of 32: John Wiley (Oklahoma Regional Training Center) VSU1 Kevon Davenport (NWTC), 16-5 4:46
Cons. of 32 #2: Kevon Davenport (NWTC) VFA Daniel Segura (Patriot Elite Wrestling Club), 5:17
Cons. of 16 #1: Luke Nichter (Pennsylvania RTC) VIN Kevon Davenport (NWTC)
 
Nic Stoltenberg – 70 kg
Rd. of 128: BYE
Rd. of 64: Nic Stoltenberg (NWTC) VPO1 Desmond Diggs (Gladiator Wrestling Club), 5-1 
Rd. of 32: Bryce Andonian (Southeast Regional Training Center, Inc) VSU1 Nic Stoltenberg (NWTC), 13-2 0:45
Cons. of 32 #2: Graham Gambrall (Big Game Wrestling Club) VSU1 Nic Stoltenberg (NWTC), 15-5 5:28
 
Elise Brown Ton – 74 kg
Rd. of 64: Elise Brown Ton (Sunkist) VSU Easton Graff (Kentucky), 10-0 0:26
Rd. of 32: Alex Facundo (Team Donahue) VPO1 Elise Brown Ton (Sunkist), 8-1
Cons. of 32 #2: Aydin Rix McElhinney (Betterman Elite Wrestling) VSU1 Elise Brown Ton (Sunkist), 30-17 5:57
 
Nathan Haas – 86 kg
Rd. of 64: Nathan Haas (NWTC) VSU1 Connor Strong (Pennsylvania RTC), 14-4 4:51
Rd. of 32: Duwayne Villalpando (Tiger Style Wrestling Club) VSU Nathan Haas (NWTC), 10-0 2:12
Cons. of 32 #2: Nathan Haas (NWTC) VSU1 Roman Bushek (Champion W.C.), 15-4 3:31
Cons. of 16 #1: Spencer Mooberry (Caveman Wrestling) VFA Nathan Haas (NWTC), 3:36

Mason, Pluhowsky Place at Lincoln Open

Lincoln - Former Huskers Gazmine Mason and  Nebraska Assistant Coach Shannon Pluhowsky earned third and fourth place finishes respectively at the Lincoln Open.

Pluhowsky was seeded third in the stepladder finals and fell 223-245 to eventual event winner Liz Johnson. Mason entered the finals as the second seed but also fell to Johnson, who bowled a perfect game, 232-300.

"I am happy with how I bowled this week," Pluhowsky said. "I made a bunch of physical progress before the tournament started and am happy with how it paid off! Looking forward to Cleveland this week and the first major right after."

Mason began the tournament in 16th place with an average of 213.33, but quickly bounced back to climb to second in the next round, improving to an average of 226.50. Mason never gave up the second seed from there, posting averages of 224.56 and 218.79 in third and fourth rounds.

Pluhowsky worked her way up the qualifying leaderboard after having started tied for 12th after the first round with an average of 214.67. She moved to seventh after the second round with her average improving to 220.42. Heading into the second day and third qualifying round, Pluhowsky made her way to fourth (220.89) and earned a spot in the stepladder finals after the last round in third with a final average of 218.17.

Julia Bond was in sixth place after the final qualifying round with an average of 214.92 with Liz Kuhlkin in ninth, posting a 213.67 average. Erin McCarthy, who placed fourth at the Twin Cities Open, placed 17th this week, averaging 208.56, followed by Lindsay (Baker) Boomershine in 21st (204.11), Valerie Bercier (22nd, 203,89), Cassandra Leuthold (30th, 200.50) and Diandra (Hyman) Asbaty tied for 43rd (197.83).

Bond currently sits fourth in the points standings, having a total 34,650 points with McCarthy in fifth (33,950) and Boomershine in sixth (30,950). Bercier moved to 15th (20,000) as Mason jumped to 25th (13,550).

Novak, Makoric Earn Big Ten Honors

The Big Ten Conference announced conference awards on Monday afternoon, following the conclusion of the Big Ten Tournament. Two Huskers received recognition from the conference. Kristina Novak was named First-Team All-Big Ten and Maja Makoric earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. 
 
Novak earned All-Big Ten Honors for the first time in her career in 2021. The Sophomore from Radovljica, Slovenia posted a 12-8 singles record playing out of the No. 1 spot in the lineup in every match. In doubles action, Novak teamed up with four different partners throughout the season to go 8-9 overall and 5-3 with partner Makoric at the No. 1 spot. 
 
Makoric earned Nebraska's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award which is given to individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The freshman from Dobrovo, Slovenia had a stellar debut season. In addition to going 5-3 with Novak and 7-4 overall in doubles, Makoric went 12-6 in singles play. 
 
Big Ten Awards
 
Individual Awards
Athlete of the Year: Alexa Noel, IOWA
Freshman of the Year: Alexa Noel, IOWA
Coach of the Year: Melissa Schaub, OSU
 
All-Big Ten
Alexa Noel, IOWA*
Elise van Heuvelen, IOWA
Ayana Akli, MD*
Chiara Lommer, MICH
Kari Miller, MICH*
Mary Lewis, MSU
Rachel Hanford, MINN*
Kristina Novak, NEB
Maria Shusharina, NU
Isabelle Boulais, OSU
Irina Cantos Siemers, OSU*
Gabby O'Gorman, PSU*
Ena Babic, PUR
Ava Markham, WIS
 
Sportsmanship
Ashley Yeah, So., ILL
Annabelle Andrinopoulos, Sr., IND
Samantha Mannix, Jr., IOWA
Minorka Miranda, Fr., MD
Merri Kelly, Fr., MICH
Mary Lewis, Sr., MSU
Juliet Zhang, Sr., MINN
Maja Makoric, Fr.., NEB
Hannah McColgan, Jr., NU
Irina Cantos Siemers, OSU
Seira Shimizu, Sr., PUR
Alexandra Nielsen, Fr., PSU
Maya Jacobs, Sr. RU
Charmaine Seah, So., WIS
 
*Unanimous selection

Huskers Sign Talented Tennis Recruit

Lincoln – Head Coach Sean Maymi announced the signing of Calvin Mueller on Monday, May 3. Mueller will join the Nebraska men's tennis team as a freshman in the 2021-22 season.
 
Mueller, a native of Bruchkoebel, Germany, had an U18 top-10 German national ranking and has reached as high as No. 105 in the men's German rankings.
 
In 2019, Calvin and his teammate reached the semifinals in the ITF Futures tournament.
 
"Calvin will be a big part out our program over the next 4 years," Maymi said. "He has great skills and will help in both singles and doubles. I can't wait to start working with him." 
 
Mueller joins Olathe, Kan. native and Iowa transfer, Rudra Dixit, Fresno State graduate transfer, Dario Huber, and Finland native, Roni Hieteranta, as newcomers starting this fall. 

Bouvet, Ahmed Contending at PGA WORKS

Nebraska women's golfers Vanessa Bouvet and Noor Ahmed finished the opening day among the top 10 on the leader board at the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship on Monday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Bouvet, a junior from Brunei, carded a first-round 78 (+6) to enter Tuesday's second round in a tie for fourth among the 26 individuals in the field. Ahmed (Folsom, Calif.) added an opening-round 79 (+7) in the first round to sit in a tie for seventh through the first 18 holes on the 5,825-yard layout at TPC Sawgrass.

Missouri's Jess Yuen and Louisiana Monroe's Jahaanvie Walia posted Monday's top scores with two-over-par rounds of 74. Phu Khine from UNC Wilmington sits in third at 75 (+3), just ahead of Bouvet.

On Monday, the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship announced that the top-five finishers, including ties, will be eligible for a Symetra Tour MVP Invite into the Guardian Championship at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club at Capitol Hill in Prattville, Ala., Sept. 17-19. 

Tuesday's second round will begin with tee times starting at 6:45 a.m. (CT) with live scoring from BirdieFire.com. Ahmed is scheduled to tee off at 6:56, while Bouvet is set for a 7:07 a.m. (CT) start.

The individual division of the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship is open to all eligible student-athletes on the current roster of their college team or students participating in Professional Golf Management programs who come from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

PGA WORKS is a strategic initiative designed to diversify the golf industry's workforce. Funded by PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, PGA WORKS leverages fellowships, scholarships, career exploration events, and the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship to inspire and engage talent from diverse backgrounds to pursue key employment positions across the golf industry.