Rifle Opens Season with Two Wins

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska women's rifle team opened the 2003-04 season with a pair of wins over Air Force at the NU Rifle Range. On Saturday, the Huskers posted a 6,169-6,044 victory before completing the weekend with a 6,184-6,052 win over the Falcons.

NU freshman Kristina Fehlings placed first overall among 14 competitors, scoring 1,560 points on Saturday and 1,563 on Sunday to take first in both matches.

On Saturday, the Huskers earned the top three places in the smallbore event, led by Fehlings' total of 1,166 points. Sophomore Misty Chanek placed second with 1,162 points while senior captain Melissa Downsbrough took third with 1,156 points. Senior Karen Aspden rounded out Nebraska's team score, finishing sixth with 1,134 points, as NU defeated the Falcons, 4,618-4,535. Chris Hill was the top-finisher for Air Force, placing fourth with 1,143 points.

In the air rifle portion of the meet, Nebraska swept the top-four spots to defeat Air Force, 1,551-1,509, as Fehling led the way with 394 points. Downsbrough placed second with 390 points, Chanek earned third-place with 386 points and Quinn rounded out NU's team score by placing fourth with 381 points. Edward Gallagher was the top finisher for Air Force, earning fifth-place with 380 points.

Head Coach Launi Meili was excited by what she saw on the first day of competition.

"For our first match it was exciting," Meili said. "We want an atmosphere here where competition brings out the best in the team."

On Sunday, NU improved upon its aggregate score by 15 points, while Air Force improved upon its score by eight points, but it was not enough to beat the Huskers. In the smallbore competition, NU earned the top two spots, as Fehling finished first with a personal-best 1,171 points and Downsbrough placed second with 1,161 points. The Falcons' Chris Hill finished third with 1,160 points, while Chanek and Aspden rounded out Nebraska's team scoring by placing fourth and fifth, respectively with 1,156 and 1,145 points to help NU to the 4,633-4,532 win.

In the air rifle competition, Downsbrough earned top individual honors, edging Fehlings in a tie breaker, as both shooters finished with 392 points. Chanked finished third with 390 points,helping the Huskers sweep the top three spots, while Quinn's eighth-place finish helped NU edge the Falcons, 1,551-1,520. Gallagher led Air Force with a fourth-pplace showing with a score of 382.

Nebraska's improvement from day one to day two has Meili pleased with where the team stands at this point in the season. Meili pointed out that NU's smallbore score on Sunday would have been good enough to place third at last year's NCAA Chammpionships.

"I feel great," Meili said. "We have a very solid foundation started here. If our scores are already competitive with the top two or three teams in the country, I'm very excited about the rest of the season."

The Huskers will compete in a practice match next weekend, which will help determine who will compete for NU in Fairbanks, Alaska in two weeks. On Oct. 24, NU will take on Kentucky before challenging defending national champion Alaska-Fairbanks on Oct. 26.

Meili looks forward to the challenge her team will face in Alaska.

"You have to compete against the best to know what you have to do in order to be able to compete at that level," Meili said.