MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 6-ranked West Virginia University rifle team topped No. 5 Ole Miss, 4723-4696, on Saturday afternoon, at the Bill McKenzie Rifle Range inside the WVU Shell Building in Morgantown, to wrap up its season-opening homestand.
 
The Mountaineers (2-0, 2-0 GARC) bested the Rebels in smallbore, 2340-2326, and air rifle, 2383-2370, in the match. Senior Mary Tucker led all shooters in each of the three match leaderboards, with season-bests in smallbore (594), air rifle (599) and aggregate score (1193).

"It was an improved performance today from last week, and that's the most encouraging thing," WVU coach Jon Hammond said. "We had a good week of more intense and focused practice, and we need to keep doing that throughout the semester. There are still lots of things to improve but that will come.

"Mary worked really hard this week and made adjustments for the match that clearly worked and showed in her performance, so that was great to see. She's had a lot of change recently; a new team, new school and a lot of new equipment, and that always takes some time to settle in, but it's coming together."
 
Seven West Virginia shooters placed inside the top on the overall match leaderboard. Along with Tucker, fifth-year senior Verena Zaisberger (1183) and junior Molly McGhin (1180) also tallied a combined score of 1180 or better in the match.
 
Zaisberger showed a 589 in smallbore and a 594 in air rifle, while McGhin finished with a 585 in smallbore and a 595 in air rifle.
 
Junior Tal Engler and senior Akihito Shimizu each finished with an 1179 and came in fourth and fifth, respectively. Engler tallied a 584 in smallbore and a 595 in air rifle, and Shimizu showed a 582 in smallbore and a 595 in air rifle. Of note, Shimizu's 595 in air was the second-best mark in the relay.
 
Finishing in eighth, junior Becca Lamb totaled a score of 1174, after shooting a 585 in smallbore and a 589 in air rifle.
 
Sophomore Natalie Perrin rounded out the match's top 10, with an aggregate score of 1172. The Coopersville, Michigan, native tallied a 580 in smallbore and a 592 in air rifle.
 
Junior Matt Sanchez finished the match with an 1171 overall, including a 578 in smallbore and a 593 in air rifle. Senior Malori Brown checked in behind him with an 1165 (577 in smallbore, 588 in air rifle).
 
Freshman Visnu Pandian rounded out the team's scores with a 591 in air rifle. The Noida, India, native did not compete in the smallbore relay.
 
For smallbore, the scores of Brown, Engler, Perrin, Shimizu and Tucker counted towards the team's total. Engler, Lamb, Perrin, Shimizu and Tucker's scores counted for air rifle.
 
Next up, West Virginia embarks on its first road trip of the season from Oct. 15-16, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. WVU begins the weekend on Saturday, Oct. 15, against UTEP, and wraps up trip on Sunday, Oct. 16, against Air Force. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET.

"We have a short week, and then, go to Air Force next for a couple matches while some of the team members travel to Cairo for the World Championships," Hammond concluded. "So, we'll be supporting Mary, Tal and Natalie over there while getting ready for our first road trip."
 
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