Rifle: No. 2 WVU Outshoots Ole Miss
January 30, 2010 11:12 PM | General
January 30, 2010
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| Nicco Campriani |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 2-ranked West Virginia University rifle team extended its win-streak to 15 matches and defeated Ole Miss, 4696-4576, this evening in Cookeville, Tenn.
The Mountaineers (9-0, 5-0 GARC) won convincingly in both guns, outshooting the Rebels 2366-2319 in air and 2330-2257 in smallbore.
Tonight’s win give the Mountaineers nine victories on the season. WVU last won its first nine matches in 2001; that team ended the year with an 11-0 mark.
“Today was the type of road score we were looking for,” says fourth-year coach Jon Hammond. “We played around with the lineups a little, and with good results. I’m happy with the consistency we’ve achieved these past few matches.”
WVU’s combined total is its best road score of the season; the total is also one shot short of the team record achieved last week.
The Mountaineers kept their unblemished discipline records clean, sweeping air gun (2366-2319) and smallbore (2330-2257).
Junior Nicco Campriani continues to set records at WVU, as the Florence, Italy, native finished first overall with a school-record combined score of 1187. The 2008 Olympian also won air gun and smallbore with respective school-record scores of 596 and 591.
Senior Bryant Wallizer finished behind Campriani with a score of 1174, while sophomore Michael Kulbacki tallied a combined score of 1170.
The Rebels’ Keely Stankey finished first for Ole Miss with a combined score of 1159.
The Mountaineers dominated both guns this evening. Wallizer shot a season-high 593 air gun to finish behind Campriani. Kulbacki’s 591 was the third-best score, while junior Tommy Santelli shot a season-best 590 to finish fourth. Junior Andy Lamson and sophomore Justin Pentz tied for fifth with 586s.
Wallizer finished second to Campriani in smallbore as well with a 581 score. Santelli, Kulbacki and Pentz tied for third and shot 579. Lamson finished sixth with 577, while junior Kyle Smith finished seventh with a 576 score.
Stankey paced the Rebels in both guns, shooting 584 air and 575 smallbore.
Tonight’s win is the Mountaineers’ third-straight over the Rebels; WVU owns a 5-3 series advantage.
The Mountaineers’ match with Memphis has been cancelled for tomorrow, as the Tigers can not travel due to weather. Instead, WVU will shoot as an open team at the Winthrow Invitational in Murray, Ky., at 8 a.m.
