Jan. 18, 2010

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Just off a win over the Army Black Knights Saturday in West Point, N.Y., the Kentucky rifle team returns to action with a Tuesday match up against traditional power Alaska-Fairbanks, at UK’s Barker Hall.

“Alaska is ranked No. 1 in the latest polls and we are No. 4,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “They are shooting some solid numbers, they have really been performing well. We are looking to better the performance we had Saturday. We need to work towards achieving our end of the season goals and Alaska is a great test. They are a very talented group, they have two or three solid All-Americans. They have some big guns and some really young freshmen talent. We are going to have to see where we match up, it is just going to be about who can perform the best. We had had some really good training sessions and we need to build on the confidence that Saturday’s win helped build.”

Kentucky (6-2) posted a 4672 win at Army Saturday, getting strong performances from senior shooters Ashley Jackson and Jen Pason. Jackson finished with a 583 in smallbore and a 592 in air rifle, with Pason totaling a 584 in smallbore and a 587 in air rifle. Fellow senior Tom Csenge contributed a 585 in air gun and a 577 in smallbore.

The Wildcats lost the meeting with the high-power Nanooks last year, 4651-4635, in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The teams will begin shooting smallbore in the morning and will shoot air rifle beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET and again at 4:30 p.m. ET. Fans are welcome to attend the air rifle portions of the match at Barker Hall.