LEXINGTON, Ky. — After suffering its first conference defeat in 700 days, the Kentucky rifle team looks to rebound with a weekend of competition, welcoming Rose-Hulman on Saturday and Jacksonville State on Sunday to UK?s Barker Hall.

?We have two important matches with Rose-Hulman and Jacksonville State this weekend,? Kentucky head coach Harry Mullins said. ?We have been making some small mistakes that have cost us large numbers in the past few matches, so I hope that we will come out and shoot well this weekend. We need to come out and perform like we know how.?

Kentucky (9-2) enters the match after suffering its first Great American Rifle Conference loss since a 2006 setback, a span of 700 days. UK had rolled through its regular season schedule the past two seasons, claiming the GARC regular season and tournament championship without a blemish in 2006-07. UK dropped its match with powerhouse Army last weekend in Oxford, Miss., after dispatching Memphis in a Friday match.

Leading the way for UK has been its solid sophomore class, featuring Tom Csenge, Jen Pason, Leslie Angeli, and Ashley Jackson. Senior Ray Geyer and junior Andrew Roland have also been posting solid scores, with Roland posting a career best in smallbore with a 587 in UK?s loss to Army.

?On Sunday we are shooting against Jacksonville State, which is one of the top eight teams in the country right now,? Mullins said. ?They will be looking to get their feet back on the ground to make a run at the Ohio Valley Conference Championship, which is next weekend for them.?

The match will kick off on Saturday with smallbore at 10 a.m. ET, and then starting air rifle at 12:30 p.m. All matches take place in the basement of UK?s Barker Hall (next to administration/classroom building). Live stats will be available on UKathletics.com throughout the weekend.