Rifle to Face Defending National Champion

The Nebraska women's rifle team heads to Colorado Springs, Colo., this weekend to face familiar competition. The Huskers will shoot against defending national champion Alaska-Fairbanks on Friday, and against Air Force on Saturday. NU lost to Alaska-Fairbanks on Oct. 26, but is 2-0 against Air Force this year, with season-opening victories over the Falcons on Oct. 11 and 12.

"We're in for a tough match against Alaska-Fairbanks," said NU Head Coach Launi Meili. "We're coming off of a break, and I'm just hoping to shoot much better against them than we did last time."

"Air Force should also be tough. They're on their home court, and I expect them to shoot better against us than they did when they were here."

This weekend's matches will be the first competition for the 4-2 Huskers in over a month. The team last competed on Dec. 6, in a victory over UMKC. Against the Kangaroos seniors Karen Aspden and Melissa Downsbrough were unable to compete, although both should see action this weekend.

"The team is hungry to shoot, which is a good sign," Meili said. "I'm hoping that will translate into a very good weekend for us."

Huskers Fared Well in Last Match

The Nebraska women's rifle team defeated UMKC, 6,152-5,910, in its last match of 2003, to improve to 4-2 on the season. The Huskers were fueled by the second-best smallbore score (4,621) in NU Rifle Range history.

The Huskers had the top-two finishers in each event, with freshman Kristina Fehlings (1,162) winning the smallbore competition, followed by sophomore Misty Chanek (1,161).

Fehlings’ and Chanek’s scores were part of a red letter day for NU in smallbore. Three of the four Husker shooters recorded scores higher than their season average, including a career-high 1,146 fired by freshman Stacy Underwood. Fehlings score was 13 points higher than her season average, while junior Laura Johnson rounded out NU’s team score with a 1,146, 10 points above her season average. Freshman Sarah Quinn competed unattached in the event, firing a 1,127.

In addition to winning smallbore, Nebraska won the air rifle event, 1,531-1,485. Fehlings captured the overall individual title by firing a 393 in air rifle to earn first place and a tie for the second-best score ever fired at the NU Rifle Range. Chanek finished in second place with 386 points. Quinn finished third on the team behind Fehlings and Chanek with 378 points and Underwood rounded out NU’s team score with 374 points. Johnson competed unattached in the event and fired a 378.

Media Guide Now Available on Internet

The 2003-04 Nebraska women's rifle media and recruiting guide is now available for download at Huskers.com. Copies of the guide will be available later this month and can be purchased for $3 (tax included) at Huskers Authentic or online at Huskers.com.

Looking Ahead

Following this weekend's matches in Colorado Springs, the NU women's rifle team will have two weeks off before returning to competition Saturday, Jan. 24, against Army and Sunday, Jan. 25, against Navy. Both matches will begin at 8 a.m. (CST) and will be held in Palmyra, Pa.