Three Huskers Named NTCA All-Americans

Las Vegas, Nev. – Three members of the University of Nebraska bowling team were selected to the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-American team announced Thursday evening.  

Senior Crystal Elliott and freshman Jillian Martin were both first-team honorees, while senior Kendyl Hofmeister earned honorable-mention honors.  It is the first time since 2018-19 that Nebraska had multiple first-team All-Americans in the same season (Raquel Orozco and Meghan Straub). Martin was also honored as the NTCA Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Husker freshman to win the award in more than a decade.  

This is Elliott’s second All-America award in her career (2021, 2023). She currently ranks fourth nationally in scoring average (211.6) heading into tomorrow’s NCAA Championship. Elliott has posted three top-five finishes this season, including an individual title at the Stormin’ Blue and White Vegas Classic.  

Martin caps an outstanding freshman year as a first-team All-American.  She competed in all nine regular-season tournaments and posted three top-five finishes and five top-10 performances.  She is currently ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring average with a 215.7. Martin was the MVP of the Motiv Penguin Classic and placed second at the Bearcat Roto Grip Open earlier this season. In addition, Martin won the National Amateur Championship and was also named to the 2023 Team USA in January. 

Martin’s selection of NTCA Rookie of the Year marks the first Husker freshman to win the award since Cassandra Leuthold in 2007. She is the fourth Husker to win since the program became a varsity sport in 1998, joining Husker legends Lindsay Baker (2005) and Shannon Pluhowsky (2001).  

Hofmeister collects her second straight All-America award. She is the team’s leadoff bowler and has posted two top-10 finishes and placed in the top 25 six times in nine regular-season tournaments. Hofmeister averages a 208.66 this season and is ranked in the top 15 players of the country in overall scoring average with 20.449 Avg/Frame. 

The Huskers will face McKendree in the first round of the National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championship Friday morning at 11 a.m. (central) at the South Point Bowling Plaza. Fans can follow along on Husker bowling social media channels and watch live on NCAA.com.