The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Rifle to Shoot in NCAA Qualifier
2/17/2017 | Rifle
OXFORD, Miss. -- The No. 13 Ole Miss rifle team will face No. 14 Jacksonville State in the NCAA Qualifier at home at the Patricia C. Lamar Readiness Center Feb. 18 at 8:30 a.m.
This will be the second meeting of the two teams this season as the Rebels will look to shoot their way into the NCAA Championships.
Noting the Rebels Last Match
The Rebels are coming off back-to-back victories the past two weekends against Akron and Memphis. Ole Miss secured a close victory over Akron (4639-4639) and then went on to dominate Memphis by 25 points (4640-4615).
Last weekend, the Rebels topped the Tigers by 18 points in the smallbore competition with a 2297 and by seven points in air rifle with a 2343. Sophomore Harley Gardner led the match in smallbore with a 578 and senior Alison Weisz held the highest air rifle score with a 590 for the Rebels for the second week in a row.
Match-up with Jacksonville State
This will be the second time Ole Miss will face Jacksonville State this season, as the Rebels fell to the Gamecocks by one point in their last meeting (4656-4655).
Though the Rebels may have lost their last encounter with the Gamecocks, they considered it a win nonetheless as they posted a new record setting aggregate score in the process. Senior Alison Weisz led the Rebels tying her second best air rifle score with a 595 and freshman Jillian Tyler posted a personal best with a 590, six points above her previous career-high.
Like the Rebels, Jacksonville State is coming off a victory against Morehead State as they topped the Eagles by 29 points (4653-4629). The Gamecocks shot a 2318 in smallbore, for a new season high, and a 2335 in air rifle led by senior Brandon Muske in both. Jacksonville State spent the first five weekends of the season improving their aggregate each time, but since have posted scores ranging within thirty-points. They hold a season high of 2351 in air and a 4656 aggregate.
NCAA Championships Process
Scores fired this weekend are weighed fifty percent in determining a team's final ranking. The top eight teams (out of 25) will receive an invitation to the NCAA Championships in Columbus, Ohio.
Nationally, an additional four individuals in each event, who are not on a qualifying team will receive invitations to the NCAA's based solely on scores fired at the NCAA Qualifier.
Marsha's Minute
"I really like that we are competing against JSU, I believe it will be a good match up," Beasley said. "I expect everyone to be focused on the little things that can add points to their scores in hopes that we can have a different outcome against them than in October."
"Our job tomorrow is to put together solid performances. If our best shooters do that, we should earn individual slots for NCAA's," Beasley said. "I believe we have shooters who belong in the NCAA Championships field and Saturday is the opportunity to earn those invitations."
Promotions
The first 75 fans will receive bullet shaped thumbnail flash drives in addition to the 20 Rebel Rewards points offered.
Live Scoring
Fans can follow the Rebels online with live scoring provided by Megalink and available to access through OleMissSports.com.
For more information on Ole Miss Rifle, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissRifle, on Facebook at OleMissRifle and on Instagram @OleMissRifle.
