Huskers Open New Year With Tough Test

Lincoln -- The women's rifle team will compete this weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo., at a competition hosted by the U.S. Air Force Academy. The match will feature Alaska-Fairbanks, Nebraska, Texas at El Paso and the host school.

After more than a month off from collegiate competition, the Huskers are looking forward to a tough match. Alaska-Fairbanks won the NCAA championship last season, sweeping both the smallbore and air rifle competitions.

Earlier this season, Nebraska competed against all three teams at the Walsh Invitational Rifle Match in November. Alaska-Fairbanks won the competition taking both the smallbore (4,676) and the air rifle (1,565) for a match total of 6,241. USAF placed seventh with a combined score of 6,090 (4,574 smallbore, 1,516 air rifle), while Nebraska took ninth with a 6,070, shooting 4,560 in the smallbore and 1,510 in the air rifle. UTEP finished 12th (5,980) with scores of 4,482 in the smallbore and 1,498 in the air rifle.

Head Coach Karen Anthony said she is eager to see how her team fares against Alaska-Fairbanks.

"I think this is one of the better matches we've been to this season," Anthony said. "I think we will do well. It will be good for the women to shoot head-to-head with a team like that."