.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, October 14
Oxford, Miss.
8 AM
Ole Miss
vs
West Virginia
Rifle Opens Home Schedule with No. 1 West Virginia
10/13/2023 | Rifle
Rebels Will Play First Conference and Home Match on October 14
MURRAY, Ky. – Ole Miss rifle starts will open conference play and their home schedule against West Virginia on Saturday, October 14. Both teams head into the match-up undefeated after opening weekend.
On the Line
The Rebels are coming off their third straight top-four placement at the NCAA Championships. On their way to fourth place, the team also finished second in smallbore for the first time in program history. Lea Horvath and Emma Pereira guided Ole Miss with their fifth and seventh-place finishes in smallbore. Ole Miss went 9-2 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.
It was a record-breaking year for the Rebels as a team and for individuals. The team posted a program-high match score of 4743 against Memphis. The Rebels were runner-ups at the GARC Championships for the program's highest placement ever. Individually, Horvath became the first woman in NCAA history to fire a perfect 600 in air rifle three times in a career. The senior also tied her own school record in smallbore of 594 and broke her match aggregate score of 1194.
Coach Rachel Martin
West Virginia
The Mountaineers, led by Jon Hammond in his 18th season, are ranked No. 1 in the national by the CRCA. West Virginia won their first match against Akron October 7 by a score of 4751-4696. It tied the program's highest aggregate match score which they set last season.The team was led by freshman shooter Griifin Lake and fifth year Mary Tucker who fired an 1188 aggregate score. Tucker scored the highest in smallbore with a 595. Lake, Molly McGhin and Matt Sanchez tied for the best air rifle score of 598.
Series History
Ole Miss is 1-15 all-time against the Mountaineers. The one win coming in 2005 on the road. It's the first time in three years, the two teams have not faced in the opening match of the season.
Diamond in the Rough
The freshman started her first ever collegiate match against Jacksonville State as a smallbore counter. She fired a 577 which tied for the seventh best smallbore performance. While Diamond was not a counter for air rifle, she still put up a whopping 594, tying fifth place in the discipline. It marks the highest air rifle score by a freshman in their first match since Horvath in 2020.
The Keenesburg, Colorado, native's stellar outing earned her a counter spot in smallbore and air rifle the next day in a win over Murray State. Diamond delivered a 1180 aggregate score, which tied for second place overall. She shot a personal best 587 in smallbore and a 593 in air rifle.
CRCA Preseason Rankings
The Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association ranked Ole Miss as the fourth-best program in the nation in their preseason rankings. The Rebels finished last season fourth at the NCAA Championships. It marks the first-ever CRCA Preseason ranking.
West Virginia is the No. 1 team, with TCU and Kentucky at two and three, respectively.
Olympic Qualifiers
Three Rebels traveled to Fort Moore, Georgia, for the first trial to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Kristen Derting, Katelyn Foust, and Emma Pereira shot smallbore and air rifle at the qualifier.
Derting led the way for the Rebels in both disciplines, firing a 1243.4 in air rifle and 1145 in smallbore. Emma tied Kristen in smallbore, also shooting an 1145.
The Season
The rifle episode of The Season will relive the moments of the West Virginia at Ole Miss match on October 7. The top two finishers at the 2023 GARC Championships will go head-to-head in the Rebels first home match of the season. It will go behind the scenes of Ole Miss' new head coach and former NCAA Smallbore Champion Rachel Martin.
Promotional Schedule
At the match, Ole Miss will be having a tailgate right outside the rifle range and be giving away bottle openers.
Rebs on Socials
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle) and at OleMissSports.com
On the Line
- The Rebels' roster has seven returning players, including all five NCAA Championship counters
- The team also brought in four newcomers, three freshmen, and a transfer
- The 11-member roster is the largest since the 2020-21 season
- Ole Miss went 2-0 in its opening weekend against Jacksonville State and Murray State
- Freshman Regan Diamond was a counter in smallbore both matches and air rifle against Murray State
- Coach Martin earned her first win as the Rebels head coach against Jacksonville State and her first overall since January 24, 2021 as the Nebraska coach
- New assistant coach Will Shaner won the gold medal for men's air rifle at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
- Ole Miss rifle is ranked No. 4, according to the CRCA Preseason Rankings
The Rebels are coming off their third straight top-four placement at the NCAA Championships. On their way to fourth place, the team also finished second in smallbore for the first time in program history. Lea Horvath and Emma Pereira guided Ole Miss with their fifth and seventh-place finishes in smallbore. Ole Miss went 9-2 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.
It was a record-breaking year for the Rebels as a team and for individuals. The team posted a program-high match score of 4743 against Memphis. The Rebels were runner-ups at the GARC Championships for the program's highest placement ever. Individually, Horvath became the first woman in NCAA history to fire a perfect 600 in air rifle three times in a career. The senior also tied her own school record in smallbore of 594 and broke her match aggregate score of 1194.
Coach Rachel Martin
- First season as the Rebels head coach, promoted after one season as assistant coach
- Two years of head coaching experience at Nebraska, guiding them to the NCAA Championships in both seasons
- Coached three All-Americans
- Former collegiate shooter with Nebraska from 2014-17
- NCAA Individual Smallbore Champion in 2015
West Virginia
The Mountaineers, led by Jon Hammond in his 18th season, are ranked No. 1 in the national by the CRCA. West Virginia won their first match against Akron October 7 by a score of 4751-4696. It tied the program's highest aggregate match score which they set last season.The team was led by freshman shooter Griifin Lake and fifth year Mary Tucker who fired an 1188 aggregate score. Tucker scored the highest in smallbore with a 595. Lake, Molly McGhin and Matt Sanchez tied for the best air rifle score of 598.
Series History
Ole Miss is 1-15 all-time against the Mountaineers. The one win coming in 2005 on the road. It's the first time in three years, the two teams have not faced in the opening match of the season.
Diamond in the Rough
The freshman started her first ever collegiate match against Jacksonville State as a smallbore counter. She fired a 577 which tied for the seventh best smallbore performance. While Diamond was not a counter for air rifle, she still put up a whopping 594, tying fifth place in the discipline. It marks the highest air rifle score by a freshman in their first match since Horvath in 2020.
The Keenesburg, Colorado, native's stellar outing earned her a counter spot in smallbore and air rifle the next day in a win over Murray State. Diamond delivered a 1180 aggregate score, which tied for second place overall. She shot a personal best 587 in smallbore and a 593 in air rifle.
CRCA Preseason Rankings
The Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association ranked Ole Miss as the fourth-best program in the nation in their preseason rankings. The Rebels finished last season fourth at the NCAA Championships. It marks the first-ever CRCA Preseason ranking.
West Virginia is the No. 1 team, with TCU and Kentucky at two and three, respectively.
Olympic Qualifiers
Three Rebels traveled to Fort Moore, Georgia, for the first trial to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Kristen Derting, Katelyn Foust, and Emma Pereira shot smallbore and air rifle at the qualifier.
Derting led the way for the Rebels in both disciplines, firing a 1243.4 in air rifle and 1145 in smallbore. Emma tied Kristen in smallbore, also shooting an 1145.
The Season
The rifle episode of The Season will relive the moments of the West Virginia at Ole Miss match on October 7. The top two finishers at the 2023 GARC Championships will go head-to-head in the Rebels first home match of the season. It will go behind the scenes of Ole Miss' new head coach and former NCAA Smallbore Champion Rachel Martin.
Promotional Schedule
At the match, Ole Miss will be having a tailgate right outside the rifle range and be giving away bottle openers.
Rebs on Socials
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle) and at OleMissSports.com
Players Mentioned
Shootin' The Breeze with Ole Miss Rifle's Susan Carter and Regan Diamond
Tuesday, October 21
HOT SHOTS: Audrey Gogniat and Emma Holtz
Thursday, March 20
Rifle Air Rifle Runners-Up NCAA
Saturday, March 15
Audrey Gogniat Air Rifle Individual ChampionPodium
Saturday, March 15