Meghan Straub has one more shot to lead Nebraska to its first bowling national title since 2015.
Her parents hope to see that, too. The Huskers begin play at the NCAA championships Thursday in Wickliffe, Ohio.
But mostly, Bill, NU’s head coach, and his wife Kim, office manager for the team, have just enjoyed seeing their daughter every day during practice.
Meghan was recruited to play volleyball in college. But before her senior year at Lincoln Pius X, she tore her Achilles tendon, which cooled recruiting interest. So she ended up staying in Lincoln.
“I told her mom if it was that way, we’d have spent the past four years hoping to fly somewhere to see her play,” Bill said. “As it is now, we’ve seen her do everything athletically in college. We’re just pleased where we are right now.”
Meghan, the Huskers’ only senior, was a third-team All-American last season when NU finished fourth. The Huskers also return junior Raquel Orozco, a first-team All-American last season, and three other letterwinners in Allison Morris, Estefania Prieto and Michelle Guarro.
“They’re currently playing the best they have all year,” Coach Straub said. “We had a lot of illnesses through the middle of the year. I’m not trying to play the violin, but that included the coaching staff. There was one event I was sick and couldn’t go try to help them.”
Nebraska opens play at nationals against Arkansas State at 8 a.m. The Huskers could face defending champ Vanderbilt in the second round.
Nebraska will be looking for its sixth national title, and Straub said his team’s experience should be a factor.
“If we do go along enough that we get on television (for the final on Saturday), you got to assume that camera doesn’t just have your mom on the other side. You got to do your best to stay cool, calm and collected,” he said. “If that happens, we’ll be OK.”
