MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University rifle team opens the 2017-18 season in a familiar position, as the squad sits at No. 1 in the College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) Preseason Poll.
 
The five-time reigning NCAA Champion Mountaineers concluded the 2016-17 season in the same spot following their record breaking, winning 4723 showing at last season's National Championships.
 
TCU and Murray State rank No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Kentucky follows at No. 4 and Ohio State sits at No. 5.
 
Nebraska checks in at No. 6, Alaska-Fairbanks ranks No. 7 and Air Force follows at No. 8. NC State and Army round out the top 10.
 
The Mountaineers will face every top-10 team but No. 8 Air Force this season.  
 
Four All-America shooters return for WVU, including senior team captain Elizabeth Gratz. Also returning are a trio of NCAA National Champions in junior Ginny Thrasher (2016 smallbore and air rifle) and sophomores Milica Babic (2017 air rifle) and Morgan Phillips (2017 smallbore). Junior Will Anti, sophomore Jack Anderson and redshirt-freshman Noah Barker complete the Mountaineers' list of returners.
 
Redshirt-freshman David Koenders and freshman Sarah Osborn join the Mountaineers this season.  
 
WVU opens its 2017-18 season against No. 9 NC State in Charleston, South Carolina, on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 8 a.m.