Feb. 15, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky rifle team will begin postseason play on Saturday, hosting the NCAA Qualifiers this weekend at the Buell Armory. Kentucky and Ole Miss will open the Qualifiers on Saturday at 8 a.m., with Morehead State and VMI hitting the range on Sunday at 8 a.m.
“It’s exciting to be hosting the NCAA Qualifiers,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “We’re just going to go out and try to perform as well or better than we have in the last few matches. If things work like we’re hoping, we’ll see some more improvement and hopefully eventually peak at the right time.”
Kentucky’s lineup will feature senior Henri Junghänel, junior Emily Holsopple, freshman Connor Davis, senior Heather Greathouse and junior Aaron Holsopple.
The team scores at the NCAA Qualifiers contribute to the weighted average that determines the top eight teams that qualify for the NCAA Championships. This weekend’s score is weighted 50 percent in the overall average, with the remaining 50 percent coming from an average of a team’s top-three scores over the course of the season with no two scores allowed to come from the same site.
The Wildcats enter postseason competition with a third consecutive Great American Rifle Conference Regular Season Championship under their belt. Ranked No. 3 in the country, Kentucky delivered top-ranked West Virginia its first loss of the season, 4704 – 4695, to clinch the regular season title.
“Obviously a goal is to continue to break 4700, which we haven’t done back-to-back this year, so that would be nice to accomplish,” Mullins said. “But we’re just focused on working hard and being able to shape the environment that we’re in and working within that environment to bring home big numbers.”
Live scoring will be available for fans to check out on UKrifle.com while complimentary breakfast will be available for fans in attendance.
Game Day Information
Fans are invited to take advantage of their final opportunity to check out the UK Rifle team at home this year by attending the NCAA Qualifiers on Saturday at Buell Armory. Smallbore will begin at 8 a.m. with a tentative start at 10:30 a.m. for air rifle. Admission is free and free parking is available in the Student Center “E” Lot and the North Joe Craft Lot.
